From Monday 6th February 2023
For many years, pharmacies have been able to request prescriptions from practices. We want to improve safety and reduce wastage in this process. Local practices in Bow (Bow Health Network) and local pharmacies have agreed a new standard approach
What can my pharmacy request for me?
- Repeat medication
- Repeat dispensing medication (batches of repeat medication)
- Dosette medication
What can’t my pharmacy request for me?
The following items need to be requested directly by yourself
- Any acute medication (intended to be one-off, eg course of antibiotics)
- Past medication (not listed as current)
- Any medication we haven’t prescribed for you before
- Variable use medication, such as creams, ointments
- Painkillers – opiates including tramadol, co-codamol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, morphine/oxycodone
- Hypnotics (sleeping tablets) – including benzodiazepines and melatonin
- Salbutamol inhalers – it is important for your safety we keep track of your reliever inhaler use. Your preventer inhaler can be requested by the pharmacy.
- Rescue packs – antibiotics and prednisolone for COPD exacerbations – this is to help us keep track of usage to ensure your safety.
- Laxatives
What if, by mistake, my pharmacy asks for medication in these categories?
The practice will inform the pharmacy and the patient, that the request needs to come from the patient. With time, the pharmacy should be able to recognise these items and let you know to ask us for them directly.