Repeat Prescriptions

Including online prescription ordering service

Repeat prescriptions are ready for collection at our dispensaries 24 hours after ordering (ie next working day; doesn't include weekend or Bank Holidays).

Patients can order repeat prescriptions by ticking the relevant item on the tear off slip that came with the previous prescription and handing it in, or posting it, to the surgery.

Alternatively they can phone the dispensary;

We also offer online prescription ordering, which can be done securely (requires you to request registration details personally from the practice first). When you have registered for secure prescription ordering, you will also be able book appointments to see your doctor online.

We are no longer able to offer email prescription ordering, because email data is not secure. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Dispensing policy

NHS regulations mean that any patient who lives within one mile of a chemist shop has to get their medicines dispensed by a chemist (any chemist, not necessarily the nearest one). Some chemists arrange to order and pick up their customers' prescriptions and may deliver to some elderly or housebound customers. These services, if offered, are the responsibility of the chemist, not Whitby Group Practice.

Patients who live more than a mile from a chemist can collect their medicines from the practice's dispensary. This is also the case for temporary residents (ie patients visiting the area who need treatment before they can see their own doctor).

For most of our patients this means that if you live in Whitby town you need to get your medicines from a chemist but we can dispense for most other patients living in the surrounding villages and countryside.

We hold stocks of common treatments, but where we do not stock an item it can be ordered for the next day or you can take your prescription to a chemist's shop. The important exception to this is that we do not dispense controlled drugs for the treatment of addiction (eg methadone).

Policy about quantities

With a small number of exceptions, such as contraception & hormone replacement therapy, we  prescribe ongoing medication in 28 day amounts, which has been shown to reduce wastage for the NHS (this is common practise). Patients who are not exempt from prescription charges should consider purchasing a pre-payment certificate if they are on 2 or more regular prescriptions.

Secure online prescription ordering

Please visit our Emis Access page for information about ordering repeat prescriptions with a secure service, which cannot be viewed by others.