NHS PRESCRIPTIONS

We are here to help!

Comprehensive stock of medicines

We dispense all NHS prescriptions. We keep a comprehensive stock of prescription medicines and use a fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to fulfil all prescriptions promptly.

Here to help

Please send us your prescription to process it. Our pharmacist is always on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have about any medication you are taking.

Receive confidential advice

Please do not hesitate to ask if you are unsure of the dosage of your medication and if you are concerned about any potential side effects. Your pharmacist is a medical professional who can give you advice about your medication, discreetly and in total confidence.
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Prescription costs

For the latest information on prescription costs in the UK Please visit the NHS Health Costs Webpage

Who is entitled to Free NHS Prescriptions?

You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:

  • are 60 or over
  • are under 16
  • are 16 to 18 and in full-time education
  • are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
  • have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
  • have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
  • hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
  • are an NHS inpatient

You're also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit and meet the criteria

Learn More

What is a pre-payment certificate (PPC)

If you are not entitled to free prescriptions and you think you will have to pay for four or more prescriptions in three months, or 13 or more items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).


You can only use the PPC for your own NHS prescriptions. The PPC will start from the date of your application or phone call unless you request a different start date. You can request a start date of up to one month earlier or one month later than the date of your application or phone call.


Details of the current prescription charges and prepayment certificate costs are available from the NHS Health Costs Webpage


You can choose to pay for a 12 month PPC in a lump sum or by 10 monthly direct debit instalments. If you pay by direct debit you are entering into a commitment to pay all the instalments.


You can order a PPC online, by phoning 0845 850 0030 or by filling in an FP95 form. An FP95 form is available from some pharmacies and GP surgeries.


Remember to apply for a new PPC in good time. If you don’t you will have to pay prescription charges when your old PPC runs out.


If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you can’t get a refund unless you have an NHS receipt. The NHS receipt form is an FP57. The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay a prescription charge. They can’t give you one later. You can claim for the refund of prescription charges up to three months after paying. The FP57 form tells you what to do.

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Electronic Prescription Service (E.P.S)

If you get regular prescriptions the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) may be able to save you time by saving you unnecessary trips to your GP.


EPS makes it possible for your prescriptions to be sent electronically to our pharmacy from your GP.


This means, you will no longer have to collect a paper repeat prescription from your GP practice and instead you can go straight to the pharmacy to pick up your medicines. Please remember the surgery usually needs 48 hours to process your request and we will normally have the prescription ready within 24 hours of receipt from the surgery.


You are able to order or cancel your repeat prescriptions online with your GP practice.

Learn More

How can I start using EPS?

You don’t need a computer to use EPS. You can use the Electronic Prescription Service as long as both your GP surgery offers the service (all Surgeries in Bury offer the service).

How can I cancel the service?

You can always change or cancel your nomination. Simply speak to your GP or a member of the dispensing team before you order your next prescription. Allow time for the update to take place, to avoid your next prescription being sent to the wrong place.

Who can see my prescription?

EPS is reliable, secure and confidential. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.


They will also be able to see whether you’ve nominated more than one dispenser and can check where your prescriptions will be sent to.


If you are on repeat prescriptions, dispensers will also see all of the items on your reorder slip.

Benefits to you

You will not have to spend your time going to your GP practice each time to pick up your paper prescription. Instead your GP will send it automatically to the pharmacy, with less chance of it getting lost.


You should not have to wait as long for your prescription items, as often there will be time to get your repeat prescription items ready before you arrive. If any of the medicines on your prescription are out of stock when we receives your prescription, we will ordered in and get it ready for you


Unwanted Medicine

You can take your unwanted or out of date medicines back to Prestwich Pharmacy for safe disposal, and it’s completely FREE.

Save money for the NHS

Unused prescription medicines cost the NHS across the UK over £300 million every year.

Let us do the work
Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the Pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else. Please bring your unused medicines to the Pharmacy for safe disposal. NEVER dispose of your unused or unwanted medicines down the toilet.

Do not flush pills down the toilet or put them in the bin

For more information on Medicines Waste please visit  http://www.medicinewaste.com





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Order only medicine you need

If you don’t need the medicine please don’t order it! Please let your GP or Pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines. 

Unused medicines- safety risk

Return out of date medicines to your pharmacy or dispensary for safe disposal. If your medicines change – return your old medicines to the pharmacy for safe disposal to avoid mixing them up with your new medicines. Don’t stockpile medication – it is a safety risk for children and others who might take them.

Repeat Dispensing

A new way to get your regular prescriptions

SAVE TIME

If you, or someone you care for, use the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from repeat dispensing by Prestwich Pharmacy. 

This means you won’t have to visit the surgery or make an appointment to see the doctor or practice nurse every time you need more medicine.

REPEAT DISPENSING

Ask your prescriber (usually GP) if you can use repeat dispensing. Then after you give your informed consent, your prescriber will issue you with a signed authorisation prescription form and a number of repeat dispensing issue forms.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Bring the authorisation and issue forms to Prestwich Pharmacy and we will store them safely for you. 

When you need more medicine, you can return to Prestwich Pharmacy and after a brief check on how you are getting on with your medication, we can issue your repeat medicines. 

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

If you contact us a day or two beforehand we can even have your medicine ready for you when you come in. If you are poorly or simply find getting out too difficult you may wish to make use of our prescription delivery service.