To ensure you have sufficient medication to last over the Christmas/New Year period, please ensure you have submitted your repeat medication requests by the 12th December.  Any prescription requests received after the 12th December are unlikely to be processed before 4th January 2025.  Thank you for your support.

Need help ordering your repeat prescription? You can follow our digital assistant by clicking the link to the left.

The quickest and most accurate way to request repeat prescriptions is ONLINE. 

To do this you can use the NHS App (Apple or Android ) or Patient Access  (website, Apple or Android). Ordering your prescriptions via these routes will mean that your prescription request goes directly into your GP’s inbox, and you will be able to see when your request has been approved and sent to the pharmacy. You can also access a wealth of other services via the NHS App or Patient Access.  

Alternatively, you can request medication by email using: prescription.berrycroft@nhs.net. This email can also be used by you or your pharmacy for prescription queries.  

Please note - The NHS App is the preferred option as you can submit your ID directly, rather than having to bring your ID into the surgery, and generally contains more information from your medical records than Patient Access. If you are having difficulty, please speak with our reception team. 

If you are unable to use online services, you may wish to submit a written request using the drop box outside of the surgery door. 

Please note we are unable to accept prescription requests over the phone and due to the large number of prescriptions received every day, we require 5 full working days’ notice to issue your prescription.  

For medication queries only, you can contact our prescription line between 10am and 1pm daily, by selecting option 2 on the phone line.

Please note that any urgent medication will be prescribed and provided by the hospital.

For routine (non-urgent) medication, your hospital may send a request to us to raise a prescription.  If approved by your GP, please note that these routine medication requests may take up to 10 working days to process. 

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, practice nurse or practice pharmacist at least once a year to review these regular medications. Annual reviews will be around your birth date and will require you to book in for your pre-annual review checks beforehand. There are occasions where we may need to review medication more frequently. Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions. 

If you are requesting a medication that is not on your repeat, a review with a doctor, practice nurse or practice pharmacist may be required in order to process your prescription.  

When medication is in short supply nationally, we have received requests from some patients for increased volumes.  Unfortunately we are not able to comply with this as it compounds the problem and risks leaving a larger number of patients without any medication.  If you are unable to obtain your medication, please ask your community pharmacy if they can source an alternative and let us know.  You can also ask your community pharmacy for the 'EPS code' for your prescription and take this to another community pharmacy who are able to source your medication.  Where there are supply issues, we may be able to prescribe a direct alternative, however, where we cannot, you may require a review of your clinical condition and treatment with a clinician.

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): £9.90
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £114.50
• 3-month PPC: £32.05
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC) for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) only is £19.80

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.

As an NHS patient registered with us you will normally receive NHS prescriptions.

There are some exceptional circumstances when this is not the case and a private prescription will instead be issued.  Note: there may be a charge for writing the prescription at the surgery.  The cost of the medication is also met wholly by the patient and is paid to the pharmacy. 

Prescriptions required for travel will be private.  However, a supply of your normal medication to cover you for a holiday lasting up to 3 months is covered by the NHS.

If you have been given a private prescription by a consultant this will not automatically be converted to an NHS prescription for you.  A prescription is a legal document and the doctor signing it is responsible for the treatment.

GP practices have been requested not to prescribe medicines for minor ailments since these items are available over the counter.  Note: this applies to all patients including those who do not pay prescription charges.

Your local pharmacists are trained professionals who can help you select the best treatment for your problem and will also advise if they feel a GP visit is more appropriate.

The list of ailments is quite long but the most common ones include coughs and colds, conjunctivitis, cradle cap, dry/sore eyes, bites and stings, hayfever, athlete's foot/ringworm, travel sickness and minor aches and pains.