Ordering medication

Once we have a record of your repeat medication, you can re-order it in several ways.

Requests are usually processed within 1-2 working days. If we cannot process your request or need more information, we will let you know by text, phone call or email. Make sure your contact details are up-to-date

1. E-mail BNSSG.healthwestph@nhs.net
   
2. Download the NHS App Your registration needs to have been processed by us to use this.
3. Register with Patient Access. 
4. Ask your regular pharmacy to order your repeat prescriptions on your behalf. 

Sending your prescription directly to a pharmacy

We use the electronic prescribing service (EPS) and will send your prescription directly to the pharmacy of your choice. 

Specialist medication 

If you are on medication managed by a NHS hospital team, we need extra information before we can prescribe it to you.

The Practice will consider adding medications that are on the BNSSG Formulary 

Private Care 

We follow guidance from the BMA and NHS information sources. If you have chosen to pay for private healthcare because

• your treatment is not available on the NHS
or
•  you do not wish to wait to be treated on the NHS,

you are responsible for paying for all costs, including tests. Your private provider is responsible for managing every aspect of your healthcare. This is unless you choose to transfer back to the NHS to continue treatment at a later date.

Your private provider should not be asking your GP to arrange any tests that they deem necessary, and intend to use, to make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment with. It is your private provider’s responsibility to arrange tests for patients whose care they manage. It is your responsibility as the patient to pay for them.

Private medication 

We, the practice, reserve the right to reject any request from a private specialist to prescribe medications. If your specialist wants medication added to your repeat prescriptions, they should follow the same standard NHS guidance.

• Your specialist writes to the GP outlining the reason for starting the medication and requests a repeat prescription. Your specialist must also issue a private prescription for 1 month. This allows a reasonable amount of time for a clinic letter to reach the GP practice and be processed).
• If a private specialist issues you medication, you will need to pay the private prescription fee for that item. We will always reject requests to transfer private prescriptions to an NHS prescription before we have received a clinic letter.

If you have seen a private specialist, you may need to keep having your medication prescribed by them. Some medications cannot be prescribed on the NHS by your GP. The Practice may consider adding medications that are on the BNSSG Formulary.

We are unable to enter into Shared Care Agreements with private providers. This includes examples such as:

• DMARDS
• medication for ADHD
• hormone treatments that have been prescribed privately.

There can be some variation nationally on what GPs may prescribe. We may sometimes not be able to prescribe something your previous GP was able to. Your private specialist should be able to support your referral to an NHS specialist. You can also please speak to your GP about an NHS referral request.

Email bnssg.shsadmin@nhs.net with any questions