Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community.

Click here to download an information leaflet.

If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on medicines you can buy without a prescription.

The NHS website has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

• Go to Medicines A to Z (nhs.uk)

If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription:

• phone our pharmacist after 10am.
• fill in our medication query form.

Medication reviews

If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.

Prescription charges

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).

Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.

About pharmacists

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:

• coughs
• colds
• sore throats
• tummy trouble
• aches and pains

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

• Find a pharmacy (nhs.uk)

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

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.

If you are collecting your prescription from the surgery please allow 72 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed. If you are collecting your prescription from a named pharmacy please allow at least a week, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays before collection. This will also apply to prescriptions being sent in the post. 

If you have been given a private prescription by a consultant you have seen, the GP will decide if it is clinically appropriate to convert this into an NHS prescription. We will not issue medications without a clear written prescription and a letter from the consultant.

The doctor must agree with the treatment as they take clinical responsibility for signing it. With certain medications the consultant needs to be responsible initially, until the patient is stabilised on the medication.  In some cases the GP may not feel happy to issue the prescription and the private or hospital prescription will be returned.

Please be aware we are an NHS practice and are governed by local prescribing policies which change from time to time.

Therefore private prescriptions will be dealt with within the same timescale as normal repeat prescriptions (72 Hours)