Repeat Prescriptions

Please note that in order to reduce congestion on the telephone lines, and the possibility of mistakes occurring, we do not accept telephone requests for prescriptions - this is to reduce congestion on the busy telephone lines, and to reduce the possibility of prescription mistakes occurring.

Prescriptions can be requested in the following ways:

• Online via the link at the top of this page
• Speaking to the local chemist
• Handing in a request at our front desk
• Faxing in the request on 0131 447 3020

Please indicate your preferred chemist as we can also deliver the prescription for your convenience. If you wish your prescription to be sent to your address, please supply a stamped addressed envelope. Due to NHS confidentiality regulations, we do not fax prescriptions to pharmacies.

Processing Times

The clinician checks all prescription requests before signing. There are different types of prescriptions, allowing different levels of safety checks, and therefore leads to shorter or longer processing times.

1. Urgent or Hospital advised prescriptions:

   • If the request is produced before 11:30, the duty doctor can process for 17:30 that day.

   • If the request is produced after 11:30, it will be processed the next working day for 17:30.

2. Repeat:

   • if the prescription has been issued before, and is on the right hand side of the prescription paper, this is termed as a ‘repeat’ and will be processed within 2 working days.

3. Non-urgent request:

   • if the prescription has been issued before, but is not on the right hand side of the prescription paper, this is termed as a ‘non-urgent request’.

   • This allows an extra layer of safety as the clinician will look through your medical records when prescribing to make sure it is safe to be prescribed, and therefore will be processed within 5 working days.