Prescribing  

Repeat Prescriptions

You can order your repeat medication by writing a note detailing your medication or sending your repeat prescription slip to our Dispensary.

In addition you can fax your request to  01353 723992  or by using our online repeat prescription request form.

Please allow a minimum of 2 working days, excluding weekends, for all repeat prescription requests.

We are unable to accept repeat prescription requests by telephone, except in emergencies - it can be confusing to order drugs on the phone and it increases errors which can be quite dangerous.

Prescribing

Each Practice within the UK is allocated an annual prescribing budget. This is closely monitored by Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust. We are limited as to what medications we are allowed to routinely use.

Generic Policy

Every drug has 2 names - a drug or Generic name and a Brand name. This can be very confusing. For example the Generic drug Ibuprofen is sold under the Brand name Nurofen.

It is Government policy to increase the rate of generic prescribing and we are expected to write the generic name on prescriptions.

Equivalence - quantity of drugs allowed on each prescription

There has recently been a Government directive recommending that on any prescription the maximum quantity of drugs prescribed should be those needed for 28 days. If further supplies are needed then they should be repeated every 28 days. The Government say this would prevent wastage and save over 10% of the national drug bill.