FAQs

Is there a charge for this service?

Absolutley not! This is a free service available to all of our patients. There is no charge to collecting your prescriptions in person, this new method is the same, no-one should be disadvantaged, because they choose convenience and time saving :)

Is it safe & secure?

Our 24/7 machine is designed to meet UK pharmacy standards to ensure medicines are stored correctly and securely. It uses cutting edge technology to ensure that the right medicine goes to the right person every time. The collection point is well lit and is covered by 24/7 CCTV.

I am exempt from prescription charges – how do I sign the prescription?

This is not needed for many patients, but if required, you will be asked to declare your exemption electronically on your phone as part of the collection process.

How much time do I have to collect medicines once I receive the pin number? 

To manage our capacity we may set a 48 hour collection window, after which uncollected items may be removed and must be collected in store within normal opening times.

One of my items needs to be stored in a fridge – can this go in the collection point? 

Apologies, this is not available at present but we are working on it! Any orders containing a fridge item must be collected from the pharmacy during normal opening hours.

Are any drugs not allowed to be collected in this way?

Due to legal restrictions we cannot allow certain controlled drugs to be collected via the machine. Very large or bulky orders may also not be suitable for the machine.

The pharmacist may also occasionally need to speak with you face to face about a particular medicine on a case by case basis. You will be advised if this affects any of your regular medication each time you receive an order notification.

What if I pay for prescriptions – can I still use the collection point?

Yes. You will be able to pay any charges via card.

Will this mean you have less staff?

Not at all, in fact our Prestwich Pharmacy team is growing! This 24/7 machine simply gives you more control over when you get your medicines. This may provide our staff with more time to increase the quality of their face to face interactions with patients who come in :)

Why have you launched this service?

We have seen a growing demand for patient convenience and choice and want to make sure we continue to provide that to our community, we are still available in store as always and love our daily interactions with you all. We just thought we would grow alongside technology providing another option of prescription collection to those who wish to use it!