Please either complete an e-consult form on the homepage of our website, download the NHS App or visit www.patientaccess.com and register to order prescriptions online.

72 hours notice is required for repeat prescriptions. This allows 24 hours for the prescription to get to the pharmacy and 48 hours for them to dispense your medication. If you would like the prescription to be posted to you please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

The Well pharmacy in Yelverton and Boots chemist in Tavistock provide a collection service whereby they collect prescriptions from the surgery daily. This enables you to collect your medication straight from the chemist. Due to an increase in workload, pharmacies now require 48 hours from the time they receive the prescription to dispense your medication.

You may be asked by the Pharmacist to complete an authorisation form, confirming that you give consent to the chemist to collect your prescriptions. No prescriptions will be sent to the Pharmacy without this written consent.

Princetown

As there is no chemist in Princetown medicines can be obtained direct from either Yelverton or Princetown surgeries. Please advise your preference for collection so that we can keep our computer records up to date.

Prescription charges will be collected in the usual way.

Repeat dispensing is a new way to manage your repeat medication and aims to reduce wastage and improve patient convenience. 

When patients currently need to re-order their repeat medication, they contact the surgery, request medications and then wait 48 hours for the prescription to be generated and signed.  When a patient consents to repeat dispensing, a batch of monthly prescriptions for up to 12 months are issued at once and held at a pharmacy chosen by the patient. 

When further repeat medications are needed, the patient simply arranges to collect the medication from the pharmacy.  If the patient rings the pharmacy in advance, the medications should be dispensed ready for collection.   

If you would like to use repeat dispensing, please ask the receptionist and a request will be given to your usual doctor so they can check that your medications are suitable.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Why are my prescriptions for 28 days at a time? 

The Department of Health recommends prescriptions are issued at 28 day intervals to reduce waste.  If you have a reason for not having 28 day prescriptions please telephone the surgery to discuss.

Can I take my prescription to any pharmacy?

All batch prescriptions must be dispensed from the same pharmacy.  You can choose a pharmacy that opens late or at weekends which you may find more convenient.

I pay for my prescriptions.  Will this service cost me more?

No.  If you pay for your prescriptions the same charge per item will apply for each item dispensed.  If you are regularly prescribed three or more items per month, it is cheaper to purchase a pre-payment certificate.  For further information on pre-payment certificates visit: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx.

What happens if I need a one-off prescription?

If your doctor gives you an acute prescription (e.g. for antibiotics) at a consultation, you can take this to be dispensed at any pharmacy in the usual way.

I will be on holiday when my next prescription is due to be collected from the pharmacy.   What do I do?

Before going away, discuss this with your pharmacist.  It is at the pharmacists discretion when the batch prescriptions are dispensed and they can issue your medications early in circumstances such as this.

What happens when all the batches have been dispensed?

The pharmacist will let you know when the last prescription has been dispensed.  You should then get in touch with the practice to request your medications.  The surgery will advise you on whether you need to be reviewed by a doctor or have routine blood tests or monitoring and arrange an appointment.  If no review is needed, further batch prescriptions will be sent to the patients chosen pharmacy.

Is the surgery dispensary offering this service?

Repeat dispensing is only available at community pharmacies.  Unfortunately, patients who have their medications dispensed in the surgery dispensary will not be eligible for this service.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.