Ordering Prescriptions

Use the NHS App

Canterbury Health Centre and Sturry Surgery would like to invite you to use The NHS App

Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

The simplest and quickest way to order your repeat medication is by using the NHS App which links directly to your Prescription record at the Practice.

If you have not yet registered you can sign up to the service online or pick up a form from the surgery.

Download the NHS App

Image of the NHS App

Order Online with Patient Access

You can order your repeat prescription online using Patient Access

You can order your repeat prescription online using Patient Access.

The simplest and quickest way to order your repeat medication is by using Patient Access which links directly to your Prescription record at the Practice.

If you have not yet registered you can sign up to the service online or pick up a form from the surgery.

Order Online

Your Local Pharmacy

Pharmacies offer a prescription collection service from our Practice

Pharmacy Ordering / Collection Service

Many Pharmacies now operate a repeat prescription service where they will order your repeat medications on your behalf when they are due. If this is of interest please speak to your pharmacy to see if they offer the service.

Find a pharmacy

In Person

You can order in person by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications

Alternatively, you can submit a handwritten request. You may also write out an order for someone else, providing you include the patient’s name and date of birth and requested medication.

By Post

You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the Practice

You must include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the Surgery. Please allow at least seven days if requesting your medication by post.

Online Form

If you're not registered with Patient Access, you can use our online form

If you do not have a Patient Access account, you can still order your repeat prescription via our online Repeat Prescription form. No account required.

For safety reasons we cannot take telephone requests for Repeat Prescriptions.

Collecting your prescription

Please allow 48 working hours for all prescriptions to be processed and sent to the Pharmacy. You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. This is called the nominated pharmacy.

You can change your nomination at any time:

On the app you use to order your prescription
At the Practice
At the Pharmacy which requests the medication

Repeat Dispensing

If you, or someone you care for, use the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from repeat dispensing from your pharmacist. This means you won't have to visit the surgery every time you need more medicines. The service is also referred to as the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

Further Information

Prescription Queries

If you have any queries about your prescription, you can speak with the Pharmacist at your nominated pharmacy.

Alternatively, our team of Care Navigators can assist you with any queries.

The GP may reject your prescription request for many reasons such as:

You require a medication review
You have requested it too early (more than 1 week early)
You have not had the medication for a long time/it is an acute (one off) item

Please speak to our team of Care Navigators for further information on why your prescription request has been rejected.

Prescription Charges

About pharmacists

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:

coughs
colds
sore throats
tummy trouble
aches and pains

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

Launch of NHS Pharmacy First advanced service

The NHS Pharmacy First advanced service will launch on Wednesday, 31 January, as announced in November 2023.

The new service will enable community pharmacists to complete episodes of care for patients without the need for the patient to visit their general practice. This, alongside expansions to the pharmacy blood pressure checking and contraception services, will help patients access quicker and more convenient care, including the supply of appropriate medicines for minor illness.

As part of this change, the service is being expanded to include seven new clinical pathways (listed below). Patients suffering with any of these conditions can be treated with an appropriate antibiotic/antiviral medicine at participating community pharmacies.

Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection – Women 16 to 64 years
Shingles – 18 years and over
Acute Otitis Media – 1 to 17 years
Acute Sinusitis – 12 years and over
Infected insect bites – 1 year and over
Impetigo – 1 year and over
Acute Sore Throat – 5 years and over

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.