Reviewed March 2023
Patients can order a repeat prescription in one of the following ways;
PATIENT ACCESS - For our patients who are already registered with Patient Access, you can continue to order your prescriptions online as normal. In the notes column, please advise which community pharmacy you would like your medication to be sent to and please allow 7 to 10 days from ordering to collecting your medication from your chosen pharmacy.
EMAIL - Patients can email; Fife.northglenprescriptions@nhs.scot. Please state your full name, date of birth, address, contact telephone number and details of your medication required. Please advise which community pharmacy you would like your medication to be sent to and allow 7 days from ordering to collecting your medication from your chosen pharmacy.
TELEPHONE - Telephone requests are reserved ONLY for our most fragile and vulnerable patients such as our housebound and palliative patients.
REPEAT SLIPS - Patients can post their repeat prescription slips through the practice post box or hand repeat slips directly into a community pharmacy of their choice.
Controlled Drugs Policy Update
Please be aware that North Glen Medical practice has updated its policy for the prescribing of all controlled drugs in line with national guidance.
Drugs for Pain and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
e.g.Buprenorphine (Butrans, Transtec), Dexamfetamine, Fentanyl (Abstral, Durogesic, Matrifen), Methylphenidate (Concerta XL, Equasym XL, Ritalin), Morphine (MST, Oramorph, Sevredol, Zomorph), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, OxyNorm) & Pethidine.
Changes you may notice:
· The quantity of drug will be reduced to a maximum of 28 days’ supply.
· You may be asked to switch to an alternative drug or preparation.
· You may be asked to reduce your use of a particular drug, with support from your GP or other services.
· The drug may be removed from repeat prescription if it is only intended for short-term use.
· You may have to see your GP before further prescriptions will be issued.
· You may be asked to attend for more frequent medicine reviews with your GP.
Drugs for Anxiety and Insomnia – additional restrictions to those listed above.
e.g.Drugs known as benzodiazepines i.e. Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Loprazolam, Lorazepam, Lormetazepam, Nitrazepam, Oxazepam, Temazepam and those called Z drugs i.e. Zaleplon (Sonata), Zolpidem (Stilnoct) & Zopiclone (Zimovane).
Repeated use of these tablets over a long period of time is no longer recommended and patients will be encouraged to reduce and stop these medicines altogether.
As it is recommended that you do not stop taking these tablets suddenly, patients will be invited to attend for review with their usual GP. The dose will then be reduced slowly through a planned timetable for stopping these tablets, to minimise the withdrawal effects which can sometimes occur following long term use of this type of drug.
To ensure a consistent approach, patients will be asked to agree a ‘contract’ for the withdrawal of the drug with their GP. This outlines the planned dose reduction and any rules associated with this reduction. Patients will also be asked to nominate a pharmacy to which all prescriptions will be sent. Prescriptions for these drugs occasionally get lost or stolen, so this ensures the prescription arrives at the pharmacy safely and in time for the medicine to be dispensed.
Please note - Prescriptions for drugs for anxiety or insomnia:
· Will not be replaced if lost
· Will not be issued early.
Under these circumstances, please do not ask reception staff to request a further supply or ask triage staff for a GP appointment, as they will be unable to fulfil such requests.
Further information about any of the details above can be obtained through discussion with your GP.
CHANGES TO GABAPENTIN AND PREGABALIN PRESCRIPTIONS
Changes to the law surrounding the supply of medicines coming into force from 1st April 2019 mean that prescriptions for gabapentin and pregabalin will be more tightly controlled.
Gabapentin and pregabalin are safe and effective for conditions such as neuropathic pain relief, anxiety or epilepsy when taken as prescribed by your GP or specialist. However, there are increasing reports of patients coming to harm when it is misused and this is the reason for the additional controls. You may be asked to attend the practice for review of your medicine.
A prescription for gabapentin or pregabalin prescription now requires the following before it can be supplied by the pharmacy.
These include;
- The prescription is only valid for 28 days from the date printed on it and must be dispensed by a pharmacy within that time.
- The practice has to issue a maximum of 30 days supply on prescription - quantities may be reduced to 28 days supply to comply with this.
- Gabapentin and pregabalin are no longer allowed to be supplied via the Chronic Medication Service' offered by community pharmacies. Prescriptions need to be issued by the practice each month.
Please note that prescriptions for either of these medicines WILL NOT be replaced if lost and WILL NOT be issued early.
Thank you.