Order a Repeat Prescription

If you forget to request a Repeat Prescription

If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your pharmacy. Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine without having to get a prescription from your GP. If you receive stoma products from your pharmacy or other suppler and/or receive suppose such as continence products and welfare food from community services, you should ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining theses over public holidays, or when we are closed.

In person

You can do this by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications, or by submitting a handwritten request.

Please put this repeat prescription request in the box next to the reception desk, or by handing it to the receptionist.

By post

You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the Practice. You can include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the surgery. (Please allow extra time for any possible delays with the postal service).

Pharmacy Ordering/Collection Service

Pharmacies offer a prescription collection service from our Practice.They can also order your medication on your behalf. This saves you time and unnecessary visits to the Practice.

There are 2 Pharmacies in Beith.

• Well Pharmacy, 18-20 Main St, Beith KA15 2AD Telephone 01505 504114
• Penman Pharmacy, 2 Eglinton Street, Beith KA15 1AQ  Telephone 01505 502506

Both of the above pharmacies provide a repeat prescription collection service from Beith Health Service.

Please advise our receptionist if you would prefer to collect your repeat prescription at pharmacy of your choice.

Phone

By telephoning the surgery 01505 502888, choose prescription line option 2 and then option 1 to leave a voicemail. The voicemail facility is available 24/7 and prescriptions will be processed by a member of our Reception Team between 10am-4pm Monday-Friday. (PLEASE NOTE THE VOICEMAIL FACILITY WILL BE REMOVED FROM 4PM ON THE 31ST OF MARCH 2023)

Non-Repeat Items (Acute Requests)

Non Repeat Prescriptions known as “Acute” prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period and may require a review visit with your Doctor prior to being added onto your repeat prescription records. Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the Doctor. You may therefore not always be issued with your requested medication as you may need to consult with your Doctor.

Please note that receptionist are unable to automatically submit requests for Acute prescriptions in the same manner as repeats and will forward all requests onto GPs.  Requests for acutes also known as special requests, may be refused  and you may be asked to make an appointment with your GP.

Hospital Requests

When you are discharged from hospital you should normally receive seven days supply of medication.

On receipt of your medication requirements, which will be issued to you by the hospital, please bring this to the surgery before your supply of medication has run out.

Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by the GP first, and if necessary your Doctor will issue you with a Prescription. The Practice will endeavour to issue you with your prescription within 2 working days, but it cannot be issued until your medical details are checked by the Doctor.

If you are given a prescription at an out-patient appointment, NHS Ayrshire and Arran have a new process in place in regards to these. If your hospital consultant requires you to start any new medication/or change of dosage of current medication immediately, they should be issuing you with a minimum of 7 days supply of this medication via the hospital pharmacy.  If they want the medication started within 5 days, then they will issue you with a prescription that you should take to the pharmacy of your choice. If the commencement of this medication/change is non urgent then as a practice we have a minimum of 5 working days to process such requests.

Medication reviews

The doctors at the Practice regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets, in accordance with current Health Board policies. Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may sometimes call you in for a medication review and this may involve blood tests. It is very important that you attend these appointments, as it keeps you safe whilst taking medication.

Additional Requests of Repeat Medication

A Scottish home and Health Department circular from 1971 clarifies the position on prescribing for patients going abroad for extended periods. It states:-

“If a patient intends to go away for a longer period(than two to three week’s holiday) he/she may not be regarded as a resident of this country and would not be entitled to the benefits of the National Health Service…. It may not be in the patient’s best interest for him/her to continue to self-medication over such longer periods…. If a patient is going abroad for a long period, he/she should be prescribed sufficient drugs to meet his/her requirements only until such time as he can place himself/herself in the care of a doctor at his/her destination.”

Where ongoing medical attention is not necessary, the patient may be given a private prescription.