Ordering repeat prescriptions

Ordering medication online is one of the easiest ways for practices to increase uptake and usage in the NHS App and will save GP practices time as well as improve patient experience. Patients can use the NHS App, alongside practice websites and clinical systems, to view their previous orders and request a repeat prescription if the medication item is available to order. It’s a completely free service which is quick, easy, and convenient for patients. When a patient selects a repeat prescription request, it is sent directly to the surgery for sign-off and then issued directly to the nominated pharmacy. Orders can be made at any time at a patient’s convenience, they don’t have to wait for surgery to open. Once they have placed an order, patients can view their repeat prescriptions status and history, including when an item was last ordered. Across the SE Region over 51% of patients are enabled to order medication online, yet only 11% of patients order online in any month (Sept 2023), so that is a real opportunity to help people to self-serve when ordering medication. GP practices can also consider ordering medication by Proxy Care homes, doing this can smooth the medication ordering process for residents in care, again adding safety and saving time.  A website Prescriptions page should include:

Benefits for GP practices

  • Prescription requests come through fewer incoming channels
  • Improves medication safety as patients can only order what is Approved for prescription
  • Saves time, reduced phone calls

Benefits for patients

  • Convenience: Online prescription ordering allows patients to request and receive their medications from the comfort of their own homes, without needing to travel to the GP practice or wait on hold on the phone to check the status of repeat orders.
  • Time-saving: Without needing to call the GP practice during business hours, patients can submit their prescription requests at any time, day or night. This can save time and effort, particularly for patients who have busy schedules or mobility issues.
  • Reduced errors: When patients submit their prescription requests online, they can review the information they’ve entered before submitting it, which can help reduce errors and ensure that the correct medications are ordered.
  • Improved accuracy: By having patients enter their own prescription requests online, GP practice staff may be able to spend more time verifying and double-checking the information, which can help improve accuracy and reduce the risk of medication errors.
  • Increased efficiency: Online prescription ordering may allow GP practice staff to process and fulfil prescription requests more quickly and efficiently, which can benefit both patients and staff. Additionally, it may free up staff time to focus on other tasks, such as patient care or administrative duties.

Resources

buy an NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC)

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