Wouldn’t it be great if you could collect a
prescription for all of your medications at once?
What is a repeat prescription?
It is a prescription you can obtain a number of
times without seeing the doctor. Your doctor
will decide whether a repeat prescription is
appropriate for your medicines.
You will be asked to make an appointment if:
•The doctor needs to review your medicine(s)
to make sure they are still suitable and not
causing problems. This is very important
and is necessary every 6-12 months or more
frequently in certain circumstances.
•You need to see the doctor or nurse for a
blood pressure, asthma, diabetes or heart
disease check or blood test
• You ask for a medicine your doctor has not authorised for issue on a repeat prescription
What is synchronisation?
This is when your medicines are arranged so
that they all run out around the same time. This
means you can order all your regular medicines
at the same time.
What do I need to do?
To synchronise or organise your medicines,
please complete the attached synchronisation
form and hand it in next time you order your
repeat prescription. The GP practice will then
give you enough of each of these regular repeat
items so that they will all be due to run out at
the same time.
After this has been done, we want you to check
what medicines you need and reorder all the
medicines you regularly take at the same time.
What about the medicines I only
take when I need them?
When you are ordering your regular repeat
prescription, check your ‘as needed’ medicines
to ensure you have enough to last you until your
next prescription is due. If not, order them with
your other medicines. Try to do this every time
you order your regular medicines.
Will synchronisation of my
medicines affect me?
Yes, it will mean that instead of ordering
different medicines at different times of the
month, you will be able to order all your
medication together. This will mean fewer trips
to pharmacy and your GP practice each month.
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Tips for managing your medicines
• Always take your medicines exactly as they have been prescribed by your doctor
•If you are unsure about any part of your treatment or medicines ask your doctor, nurse,
or pharmacist for advice
•If you wish to start taking other medicines i.e. non-prescription medicines purchased from your
local pharmacy then ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse for advice to ensure it is safe to take
with your regular medicines
•Never take any prescription medication that has been prescribed for someone else. Only your
doctor will know if a medicine is suitable for you
•If in doubt ask your usual pharmacist. They will be able to give you advice about any aspect of
your medicines
Please complete the first three columns of this form and hand it in next time you order your repeat
prescription.
Please note: the majority of medicines dispensed from pharmacies have been approved for use in the UK but
different suppliers and manufacturers may have items with different appearances/colours from time-to-time, this is
safe and should not cause concern. If you have any concerns these should be discussed with your usual pharmacist.
Name of How do you
How many
medication
take the
tablets do
medication?
you have left?
E.g. Aspirin 75mg
Once a day
7
E.g. Ramipril 5mg
1 twice a day 9
For PRACTICE USE ONLY
1 months
supply =
Supply of synchronisation prescription
Are there any items on your repeat form that you are no longer using? YES/NO
If YES, which ones?
For more information about how to
get the best from your medicines, visit
www.bexleyccg.nhs.uk.
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