Old Bridge Surgery

Changes for patients on managed repeats

28th September 2020

Dear Patient

Important changes to the way “repeat prescriptions” are ordered

If medicine is ordered on your behalf by your pharmacy or another company, the way that you need to re-order your medicine has changed. You will now need to order your medicines directly from Old Bridge Surgery, who will manage your repeat prescriptions for you. You will need to do this every month.

Why is this happening?

This is a quicker, safer and more efficient way for you to order your repeat prescriptions as it will enable you to only order what you need as and when you need it.

It is important that you only order the medication that you currently require. Medicines that are not taken and are therefore wasted cost the NHS approximately £300 million every year and this money lost could be used elsewhere on other services.

When is this happening?

These changes will take place with immediate effect, so please check with your pharmacy whether they have your current order to collect as you may need to order your medicines from us straight away.

What do I need to do?

Old Bridge Surgery will only accept orders for prescriptions from you or your carer in the following way: –

  • By email to [email protected], you will need to tell us your full name, date of birth and the medicines that you require.
  • Posting your request through the letterbox at the surgery
  • Either the white tear off part of the prescription (which you got with your medication from the pharmacy – tick items you need) or
  • a list of your medications, including your full name and date of birth.
  • If you currently order through Patient Access you can continue to do so.

Please order your medicines 5-7 days before you need them, giving us enough time to process your request and issue a prescription directly to your preferred pharmacy so that they can prepare your medications for you.

We cannot take medication requests over the telephone. If you don’t have a family member, friend or carer to order prescriptions for you, please contact the surgery prescription team who can consider whether an exception can be made. The easiest way to reach them is by emailing [email protected].

Thank you for your support and understanding and we look forward to receiving your medication requests directly going forward.

Many thanks

Yours sincerely

Partners

Old Bridge Surgery

 

P.S.  We have had to ensure that every patient who may be affected received a letter, so your household may have received more than one copy of this letter.