[Practiceheaded paper]

This is a template for practices to use when contacting patients about the managed repeat scheme.

Date:

Patient name

Patient address

Patient address

Patient address

Patient address

Dear [Patient]

CHANGES TO THE WAY IN WHICH YOUR REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ARE MANAGED

Our records show us that you have at least one medication that is on a “repeat prescription”,for a medication that you can receive regularly without having to see your doctor each time.

We are making some changes to your “repeat prescription” arrangements which might affect you and this letter explains these changes and why we are making them.

What is changing?

If your usual pharmacy or another organisation such as an appliance company, currently orders your medicine or treatments, they have been asked to stop doing so. If you take your repeat list to the pharmacy, please now bring this to us directly instead.

What do I need to do?

As a patient or a carer, please ask us for the next repeat prescription at the practice, online (website or the app), by letter or by fax. You may find the easiest way to do this is to tear off the white slip on the right-hand side of your prescription and drop it into your surgery.

Practices may wish to alter the wording here to reflect your own ordering options.

As ever, we ask you to help your NHS by only ordering what you need. Please check how many days’ medicine you have before ordering a new prescription and only order when you have 8 to 10 days of medicines left. It takes about two to three working days for the prescription to be issued.

What is not changing?

Not everyone will be affected by the changes.

  • If you already order repeat prescriptions from us, you will not be affected.
  • Pharmacies that collect prescriptions from the GP surgerywill still do so.
  • Pharmacies that deliver medications and other items to your door will still do so. If you have any problem with the items issues, please ask the surgery in the first instance.

Why is this happening?

We believe that this will further improve the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of our prescribing. It will help your doctor to make sure that you are receiving the right medicines at the right time; and give you more control over repeat items, ensuring that medication waste is kept to a minimum.

When is this happening?

The changes will take place from [insert date].

Who do I contact if I need more support?

If you feel you might need support ordering your repeat prescription or you know someone who might need help, please contact us in the first instance. Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by:

  • Phoning 0800 389 6819 (normal hours 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday). A voicemail system operates at busy times and out of hours and we will endeavour to return your call by the next working day.
  • Emailing:
  • Or writing to: PALS Service, NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG,Rushbrook House, Paper Mill Lane, Bramford, IpswichIP8 4DE

We will be monitoring and evaluating this change over the next six months. Healthwatch Suffolk will support us in independently collecting patients’ experiences alongside those of pharmacies and the practice.

The xxxxxx practice