All medication requests for patient’s registered with Tyntesfield Medical Group are processed by the Prescribing Hub based at Brockway Medical Centre. The Prescribing Hub is staffed by a team of highly trained prescription clerks between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

The Prescribing Hub can be contacted directly via your normal Surgery telephone number, selecting option ‘4’ for prescriptions. Alternatively, the direct telephone number for the Prescribing Hub is 01275 465119. Please note this number is for prescription queries or problems only, the Prescribing Hub will not routinely accept requests for medication via this telephone number - please see 'How to order Medication' section below for more details on how to request medication.

Enquiries and prescription requests can also be sent via email directly to the Prescribing Hub at tyntesfield.prescribing@nhs.net

Repeat prescriptions are medications which appear on the right hand side of your prescription which your Doctor would like you to continue on a regular basis. You are responsible for ordering your repeat medication before you run out, this will not be done automatically by the Surgery. Please see ‘How to order medication for further details on how to request prescriptions for medication from the Surgery.

When a medication is newly commenced, it will often be done as an ‘acute’ prescription. If it is to be continued long term, it will normally not appear on your list of repeat medication until the Doctor is satisfied that the treatment is appropriate to continue.

There are several ways that medication can be ordered from the Surgery:

1. In person at the Surgery – you can either drop in your completed prescription counterfoil (the right-hand side of your prescription) or pick up a prescription ordering slip from the reception desk 
2. Online via Patient Access – Patient Access is an NHS service which allows you to book appointments and order medication online. You will need to register for this service in person at the Surgery with some photo ID (passport or driving license).
3. Via email directly to the Prescribing Hub at tyntesfield.prescribing@nhs.net – please provide your name, date of birth, address and specify which medication you are requesting and where you would like your prescription to be sent/left for you to collect.
4. Through your nominated Pharmacy – please discuss this with your pharmacy team

Repeat prescriptions requests have to be approved by the Doctor. The Prescribing Hub will require 2 working days to process all prescription requests that are made directly with the Surgery. Please allow 3 working days to process any prescription requests that are made via your Pharmacy. This turnaround time does not include weekends or bank holidays.

There is currently a nationwide NHS campaign to tackle wasted medicines – details of which can be found on www.medicinewaste.com. It is estimated that as much as £300million is wasted every year on unused or partially used medication. Wasted or unused medicine is a serious and growing problem within the NHS that we can all help tackle. In order to ensure the careful monitoring of medicines and to help support this campaign, the Practice will only routinely issue medication that is due within the next seven days. If you need your repeat medication earlier than usual for example, for a holiday, please specify this alongside your repeat prescription request.  

Boots, 29-30 Somerset Square, Nailsea, BS48 1RQ. 01275 856 855

Cohens, 82B High Street, Nailsea, BS48 1AS. 01275 852516

Cohens, 9 Colliers Walk, Nailsea, BS48 1RH. 01275 852096

Cohens, 27 Weston Road, Long Ashton, BS41 9AA. 01275 392289

Cohens, 1 West Town Road, Backwell, BS48 3HA. 01275 462386

Towerhouse Pharmacy, Towerhouse Medical Centre, Stock Way South, Nailsea, BS48 2XX. 01275 855109

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is a NHS service that allows us to send your prescriptions directly to your chosen pharmacy. This paper-free prescription service means that you do not have to come into the surgery to collect your prescription. Prescriptions will be sent directly from the Practice to your nominated Pharmacy. The progress and whereabouts of your prescription can also be tracked by the Practice staff, reducing the risk of missing or lost prescriptions.

EPS is a secure and confidential service. Your electronic prescription will only be seen by the same people that can already see your current paper prescriptions (GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies).

We encourage all patients to register for this free service. If you would like your prescriptions to be sent electronically please contact the Prescribing Hub to inform them of your nominated pharmacy. You can also change your nominated pharmacy at any time by contacting the Prescribing Hub directly.

If you would like to save time and order all the medication you have on repeat at the same time rather than irregular times throughout the month please use the form below. The completed form can then be emailed directly to the prescribing hub at tyntesfield.prescribing@nhs.net or a paper copy can be dropped off to your local surgery.

The Prescribing Hub will issue a “one off” prescription of the tablets you need to synchronise all your medication.

Please note we will be unable to synchronise any medicines which you use on an ‘as required’ basis or items in containers i.e. inhalers, creams, eye drops

The NHS currently spends around £136 million a year on prescriptions for medicines that can be bought from a pharmacy or supermarket, such as paracetamol. By reducing the amount it spends on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, the NHS can give priority to treatments for people with serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and mental health problems.

Generally, you will not be able to get a prescription for OTC medicines for a range of minor health conditions. Instead, OTC medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket. The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns. If your symptoms suggest it's more serious, they'll ensure you get the care you need. You can buy OTC medicines for any of these conditions:

Tyntesfield Medical Group will generally no longer provide treatment on prescription for these minor ailments listed above, even if you are entitled to free prescriptions. You may still be prescribed a medicine for a condition on the list if:

• You need treatment for a long-term condition, for example regular pain relief
• You need treatment for more complex forms of minor illnesses, for example migraines that are very bad and where OTC medicines do not work;
• You need an OTC medicine to treat a side effect of a prescription medicine or symptom of another illness, such as constipation when taking certain painkillers;
• The medicine has a licence that does not allow the product to be sold to certain groups of patients. This could include babies, children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• The person prescribing thinks that a patient cannot treat themselves

 Prescribers will generally no longer prescribe probiotics, some vitamins or minerals. You can get these from eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet, or buy them at your pharmacy or supermarket.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• Those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• Those who are age exempt
• Those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.15
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £105.90
• 3-month PPC: £29.65

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.