Prescriptions

You can order prescriptions using our Patient Online Services (if registered) or email bnssg.fireclayhealth.meds@nhs.net

Alternatively you can order through your local pharmacy.  You can find addresses & opening times of community pharmacies on the NHS website

To reduce patients into the building, the vast majority of our prescriptions will be sent electronically directly to a pharmacy.

Please allow at least two working days for your prescription request to be processed plus additional time if it is to be dispensed by a pharmacy

If you ordered your medication via Online Services, please check your request status there to make sure it has been processed before attending to collect.

All repeat prescriptions are reviewed regularly by the doctor. You may be asked to see your doctor or have tests done before your prescription can be issued.

We experience a large volume of requests for prescriptions every day. In order to safely and efficiently carry this out, Fireclay Health has produced a policy outlining our process for urgent prescriptions.

Medications other than the ones in this list will not be routinely issued on an urgent basis.

• antibiotics for infections which usually get better on their own such as colds or viruses

Make your local community pharmacy your first port of call with minor ailments - most pharmacies can now directly prescribe certain medications, e.g.

• antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections or bacterial sore throats (if required - antibiotics should not be over-prescribed due to antibiotic resistance increasing)
• treatments for skin conditions
• eye infection treatment for babies

Fireclay Health and local pharmacies operate an electronic system for sending and receiving prescriptions.  This means that we can send your prescription to a convenient chemist directly, saving you having to come down to the surgery.

To take advantage of this new service and collect medication directly from a convenient pharmacy, you should nominate a pharmacy.  If you do not have a nominated pharmacy you can collect from any pharmacy by quoting your NHS number and/or Prescription Token ID.

Please note: a few medications, such as controlled drugs, cannot be sent electronically. If you are asking for a number of medicines and one or more cannot be sent electronically, you or your pharmacy will need to collect a paper script from us for all items.

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

Currently the charge is £9.65 per item (correct as of 14.02.2023)

If you 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 Prepayment Certificate (PPC).

If you receive NHS prescriptions for HRT medicines, you can purchase a HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC). The HRT PPC covers certain HRT medicines for a set price of £19.30 and is valid for 12 months.

When you are discharged from hospital you should normally receive 7 days’ supply of medication.

Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by the practice Medicines Management team and your record updated.  You will need to order medication in the usual way before your hospital supply runs out. 

The NHS spends an estimated £300m on unused medicines each year. We need your help to reduce this.

Every pound spent on wasted medicines is a pound less than can be spent on delivering NHS services to patients.

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, alongside local GP practices and pharmacies, have launched a campaign asking people to only order what they need to help reduce medicines waste.

Everyone has a part to play in reducing medicines waste. If you take regular medications, you can help by:

• Planning ahead – make a note in your calendar before your prescription due date to go through your medication and see what you need.
• Keep track of what medication you’re taking – don’t continue to order medications you are no longer taking or where you already have lots at home.
• Only order the medication you need – when putting in your next medication order, look at what you currently have available and only order what you need.
• Check your medication before you leave the pharmacy – make sure you only have the medications you need. Anything that leaves the pharmacy cannot be reused.
• Review your medications at your GP practice or pharmacy – if you’re not taking your medicine as prescribed, contact your GP or pharmacy for a medication review