Prescriptions

 

PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS

 
 
 

We get many requests

On most days our staff deal with numerous requests for prescriptions. Our doctors have to check the patients’ medical history in their files before the prescriptions can be issued. Providing this service involves a significant amount of staff and doctor time.
We are usually heavily booked and our doctors generally have to attend to the prescription requests at the end of their consulting sessions. Consequently a small fee is charged to cover this time and effort.

 

Please give us 24 hours notice  

Given the number of requests we receive, we generally require 24 hours notice to provide prescription requests. We realise that sometimes patients get caught short with their medications and have to request a prescription at short notice.

 
However, if you can see that your medication supply is getting low, please try to plan ahead and give us at least a day’s notice if possible.
 

The Doctor may have to see the patient before a script can be re-issued

 

Doctors have a duty of care to prescribe medications with appropriate supervision. We often get requests from patients who really should be reviewed before the medication can be safely prescribed:

  • Doctors have a duty of care to prescribe medications with appropriate supervision. We often get requests from patients who really should be reviewed before the medication can be safely prescribed:
     
     
    ·         As a general rule, our doctors will not issue a prescription if the patient has not been seen within the last three months.
     
    ·         In some cases, the patient may be overdue for a review. For example, re-issuing prescriptions for high blood pressure or diabetes may be inappropriate if the patient has not been recently checked or if the patient’s medical condition was not well controlled when the patient was last seen.
     
    ·         We are not able to prescribe antibiotics without reviewing the patient first.
     
    ·         We are not able to issue a prescription for a medication that has not been previously prescribed by our practice.
     
    ·         Authority prescriptions are for medications that are either very expensive or for restricted use. Authority prescriptions are also required for patients on high dosages and special approval is required to prescribe larger quantities. All Authority prescriptions require the doctor to phone the government for prior approval. In these cases, an appointment would generally be required before the doctor can issue the prescription.
     

 

 

Medications