Repeat Prescriptions

If you have regular medication for a condition, that your doctor is aware of, you can periodically collect a repeat prescription from the practice without having to make an appointment. You may occasionally be asked to make an appointment with a doctor or nurse for a medication review.

Repeat prescription requests can be made by the following ways:

Online

Our practice has been enabled to take repeat prescriptions online via the link at the top of this page. In order to make use of this facility, you must be registered as a patient with our practice. Only then can you register with this service - SystmOnline. You can register for this service by calling in at the surgery - please bring with you 1 x form of photographic ID.

By Post / In Person

All prescriptions should be requested in writing detailing name, date of birth, address and medication required. You can email a request to anstey.surgery@nhs.net or leave a stamped self addressed envelope with you request at reception. We also have a postbox by the entrance door to the surgery or when we are closed we have a postbox attached to the railings next to the side gate.

Unfortunately, for reasons of medical safety we cannot accept a request for medications by telephone.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, pharmacist, practice nurse or healthcare assistant at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip. We will also remind patients via SMS or letter and are moving to a month of birth review date.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Please allow two full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 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

Requests for Diazepam for Fear of Flying

At Anstey Surgery, we will not prescribe Diazepam for patients who wish to use this for a fear of flying. This is for many reasons:

1. Diazepam is a sedative. This means, the medication makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there would be an emergency during the flight, this could impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions, or react to the situation. This could seriously affect the safety of you and the people around you.

2. Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however, when you sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means, your movements during sleep are reduced and this can place you at an increased risk of developing blood clots (DVT). These blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk further increases if your flight is over 4 hours long.

3. Although most people respond to benzodiazepines like Diazepam with sedation, a small proportion experience the opposite effect and can become aggressive. They can also lead to disinhibition and make you behave in ways you normally wouldn’t. This could also impact on your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers or could lead you to get in trouble with the law.

4. National prescribing guidelines followed by doctors also don’t allow the use of benzodiazepines in cases or phobia. Any doctor prescribing diazepam for a fear of flying would be taking a significant legal risk as this goes against these guidelines. Benzodiazepines are only licensed for short-term use in a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the problem you suffer with, you should seek proper care and support for your mental health, and it would not be advisable to go on a flight.

5. In several countries, diazepam and similar drugs are illegal. They would be confiscated, and you might find yourself in trouble with the police for being in control of an illegal substance.

6. Diazepam has a long half-life. This means it stays in your system for a significant time and you may fail random drug testing if you are subjected to such testing as is required in some jobs.

We appreciate a fear of flying is very real and very frightening and can be debilitating. However, there are much better and effective ways of tackling the problem. We recommend you tackle your problem with a Fear of Flying Course, which is run by several airlines. These courses are far more effective than diazepam, they have none of the undesirable effects and the positive effects of the courses continue after the courses have been completed.

Fear of Flying Courses

Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com Tel: 0203 8131644

British Airways https://www.flyingwithconfidence.com/ Tel: 01252 793 250

Virgin Atlantic Tips For Nervous Flyers | Advice For Nervous Flyers | Virgin Atlantic Tel: 01423 714900 1252250