Prescriptions at St Austell Healthcare

You can order a prescription online via the NHS App

You can also use SystmOnline. The NHS app allows you to access a range of NHS services including repeat prescription ordering and can be downloaded on your smartphone or tablet. You can also check if repeat prescriptions have been approved and sent to your usual pharmacy. For those patients without a smartphone or tablet you can also access the same services in a web browser here:  www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/account/

Please order your repeat medication 7 days before it is due.
If you have an urgent request for medicines, please mark your request as urgent.

If you are ordering medication early, please include an explanation.

We try to process all repeat prescriptions requests with 3 working days. If your prescription requires a review or is complex your request may take up to 7 days to process.

​Your pharmacy might take a few days to dispense your medication. There are ongoing shortages of common medicines coming into the UK. Please give them extra time to avoid running out.

When you ask for a repeat medicine, if the doctor says a review is needed, they'll give you one last prescription. This gives you time to set up an appointment for a medication review. 

NHS eRepeats

If you or someone you look after takes the same medicines regularly, you might use eRepeats with your chosen pharmacy. We can allow your pharmacy to provide your steady repeat medicines, so you don't need to ask for a new prescription each time you need more.

If you would like further information about eRepeats, please contact your local pharmacy or our prescribing team.

Email 
From 1st January 2024 we will no longer be accepting emails to request routine repeat medication. Urgent requests or prescribing queries can be made via our online form.

​Submit a Counterfoil
Hand in the counterfoil at any of our locations using the post boxes. If you've lost it, fill out a Prescription Request Form, available at reception.

​Our practice is collaborating with NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) which is providing NHS numbers for those patients that maybe suitable for electronic repeat dispensing prescriptions. The information is obtained from NHS prescriptions submitted to the NHSBSA. A member of our clinical team will contact these patients soon to explain the benefits of this service.

Nominating a pharmacy

When you order a repeat prescription online, you will have to nominate a pharmacy to prepare your prescription and for you to pick it up from.

You can nominate a pharmacy by using the NHS App or logging into the NHS website using a web browser. A high street pharmacy is where you collect your prescriptions in person. If you have chosen an online-only pharmacy, then they will send your prescription in the post.

If you order your prescription online:

• You will no longer need to collect paper prescriptions from our surgery
• Your nominated pharmacy will have your prescriptions ready to collect until you change or remove them.

For more information about nominating a pharmacy, visit the Nominating a Pharmacy page on the NHS website.

How your pharmacy can help

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can help you with minor health concerns. They can offer medical advice and over-the-counter medicines for minor illnesses like coughs, colds, tummy problems and aches and pains.

For symptoms that are more serious, we suggest visiting your GP or nurse. You can book an appointment by going to our Appointments page.

Prescription charges

The NHS prescription charges apply to England only. These are:

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25.

The Government provides help for those who have difficulty paying NHS prescriptions. You can find out more about whether you're entitled to support from the Government on the NHS Prescription Charges page on the NHS website. 

More information and advice about NHS England prescription charges are on the Who can get free prescription page on the NHS website. 

Questions about your prescription

We are available to help with any problems about your prescription. Contact us if you are having problems with:

• Ordering repeat prescriptions
• Your pharmacy
• Out of stock items
• General concerns about your medication.

You can contact us by emailing the surgery at admin.spindogs@nhs.net

Or call us on 01654 654654.

You can also find more information about prescriptions on the NHS website.

Medication shortages

Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide) for the treatment of diabetes.

Please be aware of the following national medication shortages:
Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide) for the treatment of diabetes.
 
Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide) are unavailable across the country. No stock is due to be available for the foreseeable future. We are placing affected patients on a waiting list to consider other options. Keep taking your other meds as usual. We'll review your medication and get in touch as soon as possible. There is no need to contact us directly.

We know that some pharmacies have sourced Trulicity 1.5mg pens. If you're prescribed this, please ask your regular pharmacy.

Utrogestan (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules

Utrogestan capsules are currently in short supply across the UK. There will be intermittent supply until the end of the year. To manage this shortage, we are limiting the quantity we issue to each patient to a month's supply.
 
If you are taking Utrogestan capsules as part of your Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), it is very important that you continue to take it and do not continue oestrogen alone. Progesterone helps keep the uterus lining thin, reducing the risk of cancer.
 
If you pay for your prescriptions, consider getting an HRT prescription prepayment certificate. It covers a year's worth of HRT for the price of two prescriptions. See here for more details: NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA
​
Please be reassured that we are keeping in regular contact with the local pharmacies to try to ensure continued supply for all patients.

Pill Review Request Form

If you've been using the progesterone-only pill and want to keep taking it, you can use this form to ask for your prescription. No appointment needed. 

Please send the completed form to prescribing.sahc@nhs.net.
If you take the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill a review appointment may be required. The common brand names are listed on the form to help with you.

Download the form here

What can the community pharmacy help with?

Condition	Pharmacy can help	Pharmacy can’t help
Bites / stings	Bee or wasp sting Stings with minor redness Stings with minor swelling	Drowsy / fever / fast heart rate Severe swellings or cramps
Colds	Cold sores Coughs Flu-like symptoms Sore throat	Lasted +3 weeks Shortness of breath Chest pain Unable to swallow
Congestion	Blocked or runny nose Constant need to clear throat Excess mucus Hay fever	Lasted +3 weeks Shortness of breath 1 side obstruction Facial swelling
Ear	Earache Ear wax Blocked ear Hearing problems	Something may be in the ear canal Discharge Severe pain Deafness Vertigo
Eye	Conjunctivitis Dry / sore tired eyes Red or irritable eye Sticky eye Eyelid problems Watery / runny eyes	Severe pain Pain 1 side only Light sensitivity Reduced vision
Gastric / bowel	Constipation Diarrhoea Infant colic Heartburn Indigestion Haemorrhoids Rectal pain Vomiting or nausea	Severe / ongoing Lasted +6 weeks Patient +55 years Blood Weight loss
General	Hayfever Sleeping difficulties Tiredness	Severe / ongoing
Gynae / thrush	Cystitis Vaginal discharge Vaginal itch or soreness	Diabetic / pregnant Under 16 / over 60 Unexplained bleeding Pharmacy treatment not worked Had thrush 2x in last 6 months
Pain	Acute pain Ankle or foot pain Headache Hip pain or swelling Knee or leg pain Lower back pain Lower limb pain Migraine Shoulder pain Sprains and strains Thigh or buttock pain Wrist, hand or finger pain	Severe or urgent Ongoing for + 3 weeks Chest pain / pain radiating into the shoulder Pharmacy treatment not worked Sudden onset
Skin	Acne, spots and pimples Athlete’s foot Blisters on foot Dermatitis / dry skin Hair loss Hay fever Nappy rash Oral thrush Rash – allergy Ringworm / threadworm Scabies Skin dressings Skin rash Warts / verrucae Wound problems	Severe / urgent Ongoing + 3 weeks Pharmacy treatment not worked Skin lesions / blisters with discharge Diabetes related?
Mouth / throat	Cold sore blisters Flu-like symptoms Hoarseness Mouth ulcers Sore mouth Sore throat Oral thrush Teething Toothache	Lasted +10 days Swollen painful gums Sores inside mouth Unable to swallow Patient has poor immune system Voice change
Swelling	Ankle or foot swelling Lower limb swelling Thigh or buttock swelling Toe pain or swelling Wrist, hand or finger swelling	Severe or urgent Ongoing for +3 weeks Discolouration to skin Pharmacy treatment not worked Recent travel abroad