Prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions

We endeavour to process your repeat prescription request within 48 hours of receiving it. Please allow longer for weekends and bank holidays. This is the time it will take for the prescription request to be reviewed, signed and sent to your pharmacy, this does not take into account how long it takes the pharmacy to dispense your medication. This varies from pharmacy to pharmacy so please ensure you leave enough time for the pharmacy to have your medication ready.  For prescribing safety reasons, the practice policy is to issue prescriptions no more than 7 days early. Should you require your prescription early please make sure you speak to the surgery before putting in your request.

Non repeat (acute) prescriptions

These requests may take longer than 48 hours because they are not repeat medications so your GP will need to review the medication to ensure it is safe to be prescribed again. Usually non repeat prescriptions are not intended for long term or repeated use so your GP may ask you to make an appointment to discuss your medication request before they prescribe that particular medication again.

Common reasons for delayed prescriptions?

Whilst we endeavour to process your prescription request within 48 hours of receiving it on occasions there may be delays. We would not refuse or stop your medication without communicating with you.  The main reasons for delays are:

• Ordering too early – If you have ordered more than 7 days before your medication is due, as per the practice policy this request will be declined. This will result in you having to order your prescription again by which point you may be running out. To avoid this, order when you have 7 days or less left of your medication and if you need it sooner please contact the surgery.
• Overdue medication review – We would not refuse a prescription because you are overdue your medication review. Your request would have to be reviewed by the GP to determine whether it is safe for them to prescribe your medication and inform you if you require any monitoring.  How long this takes varies between patients as some have more complex health problems than others. To avoid delays because of an overdue medication review, please ensure you arrange a review appointment as soon as you have been notified the surgery.
• Unclear medication requests – If you have not provided the full medication details – including the name and the strength of the medication we will not be able to process the request. We will need to contact you to confirm exactly what you are requesting. How long this takes can vary depending on how soon we are able to speak to you.  We will always leave a message for you to contact us if we have not been able to speak to you.
• Non repeat prescription item requests – If a medication is not on your repeat prescription it may not have been intended for long term use. You GP may have prescribed you a short course of a medication to use as a one off or they wanted to review you before that item goes on to your repeat prescription. All non-repeat prescription items have to be reviewed by the GP/Clinical Pharmacist to determine whether they are suitable for you to be issued another prescription. How long this takes will vary depending on the medication you have requested. To avoid delays for non-repeat medications please ensure you arrange a follow up with the GP if they asked you to arrange one, and when putting your request in provide as much information as possible about why you are requesting this item.

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

• using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
• using the GP online system via the link at the top of this page
• usingAnima, an online tool

These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.

You can also:

• email on northantsicb.moulton.dispensary@nhs.net
• bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8am or post in the black box on the wall outside the Surgery

We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone.

You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 7 working days after you have ordered it.

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:

• on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
• at your GP practice
• at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service. It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.

What does this mean for you?

You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.

For further information on:

• Choosing a pharmacy or other dispenser
• Cancelling or changing your choice of pharmacist or dispenser
• What can I do if I'm unhappy with the process?

Go to Electronic prescriptions .nhs.uk.

Please be advised that from the 30th April 2026 our Dispensary service will be closed. Patients will need to nominate a pharmacy to collect mediction from either via the NHS App or by contacting us. 

The way you order your medcaiton is NOT changing. 

Several local chemists will collect prescriptions from us and deliver them to your home. This you can arrange directly with the chemist.

Several GPs and staff members at the practice are shareholders in Nene Healthcare Alliance who operate NHS Pharmacy. Each shareholder’s financial interest is less than 0.1%.

For public holidays such as Easter and Christmas, we require 7 working days for dispensing patients to request their medication.

If you have a repeat prescription, you will need a medication review each year, or more frequently for some patients. We will be in touch when you need to have a review. 

Medication reviews are completed by our Clinical Pharmacy team. If you do not have your medication review, we may have to remove items from your repeat prescription list until you have had your review so that we can safely monitor your medication. 

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

DO:

• Take it to the pharmacy you got it from
• Bring it in to the surgery for dispensing patients.

DO NOT:

• Put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
• Give your unused medications to other people

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 reception team on 01604 644126 if you are not able to use our online contact tool
• contact us via Anima

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.