Ordering Repeat Prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions are medications that have been prescribed by your doctor for ongoing use. These medications will appear on your prescription slip as items that your doctor wants you to continue taking regularly. You can also access and manage your list of repeat prescriptions through your online account using the NHS App.

Please note that prescription requests typically take up to 48 hours to process, so it is important to plan ahead and ensure you have enough medication to last until your new prescription is ready. If you have any concerns or questions about your repeat prescriptions, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor or pharmacist for further guidance.

Collecting your prescriptions

Please allow two full working days for prescriptions to be processed. Due to the high volume of prescriptions we are unable to contact patients to let them know their prescription is ready for collection.

Medication reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip. Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

NHS Prescription Charges/Exemptions

These charges apply in England only. For information about prescription exemptions please visit the NHS website

Pharmacies

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns.

As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

Minor Ailments Service

Our local chemists offer a Minor Ailments Scheme which enables patients to get some medications without prescription. Please click here to see details of medications available over the counter.

Recent Prescribing Guidance

In March 2018 NHS England published new prescribing guidance covering 35 minor, short term health conditions which are either self-limiting or suitable for self-care. A ‘self-limiting’ condition does not require any medical advice or treatment as it will usually clear up on its own (such as sore throats, coughs, colds and viruses) and a ‘minor illness that is suitable for self-care’ can be treated with items that can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy. The new guidance from NHS England recommends that GPs no longer prescribe medicines that are readily available over the counter at pharmacies.

Please click here for further details.

Online Services

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

NHS App

Using the NHS Account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)

You can easily choose where your prescriptions are sent. So, if you know you’ll be away from home or you are moving home, you can change your nominated pharmacy from within the app. 
You can also order your prescription at any time that suits you. There’s no need to wait to join a telephone queue or wait until the GP surgery opens.
It’s easy to use, and, if you hit a snag, you can go to ‘Help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp.
Find out more about the NHS App at: www.nhs.uk/nhsapp.

Login to NHS App

What happens when you are referred by your GP to see a consultant Privately?

If your GP agrees that it is appropriate, they will write a referral letter and either send it to the Consultant that you have specified, or send the letter to you so that you can make arrangements. Click here for answers to your FAQs and the practice policy regarding Private Referrals.

We use a system called askmyGP which is an easy and fast way to ask for any kind of help from the practice.

• Available during opening hours from 6:00am until 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Please note, we may have to switch Askmygp off earlier if we have reached maximum capacity for the day. Reaching maximum capacity means the clinicians have received the maximum number of requests they can deal with in a safe and timely manner. If Askmygp has been switched off early it will be re-open again the following working day at 6:00am, any urgent requests which cannot wait until then should be made via telephone.
• We will usually get back to your requests within 24 – 48 hours depending upon the urgency of your request
• You can request a particular doctor or nurse (so long as they’re working)
• You can choose to be contacted by the surgery by telephone, secure message or video call
• If we need to see you we will usually give you a face-to-face or video appointment the same day
• Video consultations are provided by our own doctors through a secure link to your mobile, tablet or laptop for no extra charge
• You can register for askmyGP now, without any paperwork

If you prefer to phone, one of our receptionists will take a few details about your problem or request and then pass these to the GP. However you choose to get in touch, your GP will get contact you quickly and either sort out your problem on the phone, by secure message, or arrange to see you the same day, or another day if that’s more convenient.

Please note you can no longer book a GP appointment using our previous online appointment system.

askmyGP is available to all our patients, and you can use it to ask about your children or other people you care for (if they are registered with us).

That’s it – simple and straightforward!

We are encouraging everyone who has access to a computer, smart phone or tablet to use askmyGP:

• it saves you time
• really ill patients don’t have to wait for urgent slots at the end of surgeries
• GPs can manage their time more effectively, booking any follow-up appointments you might need and,
• it stops the 8am rush for appointments as you can contact the practice at any time, and up to 5pm get a response, and be seen if needed the same day!

Appointment reminders: We have an SMS text reminder service to remind patients of their appointment details. If you would like to be included, please let the receptionist know your mobile number.

Cancellations: if you are unable to attend your appointment, please call Primrose Surgery on 0161 747 2424 or respond to your text message appointment reminder. This enables the appointment slot to benefit another patient.

Chaperones: if you feel you would like a chaperone to be present during a physical examination, or if you would prefer to be examined by a doctor or health professional of the same gender as yourself, please let us know.

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes/letters
• Vaccination certificates

The fees are based on the amount of work involved and also the professional liability the GP takes onboard, for example by signing a form. The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

The minor ailment scheme is designed to enable people with minor health conditions to access medicines and advice they would otherwise visit their doctor for. It allows patients to see a qualified health professional at a convenient and accessible location within their community, and means patients do not need to wait for a GP appointment or queue up for a valuable A&E slot with a non-urgent condition.

Ailments that may be treated under the scheme include:

• Coughs & colds
• Sore Throat
• Diarrhoea
• Headache / Earache / Temperature
• Hayfever /Insect Bites
• Head lice
• Nappy rash
• Constipation
• Vaginal Thrush
• Bacterial Conjunctivitis
• Cold Sores
• Teething
• Acute Cystitis in Women
• Eczema and Dry Skin

The Minor Ailment Scheme increases the NHS resources by utilising pharmacists, with their extensive knowledge, in supporting GPs. This allows GPs to concentrate on the complex clinical needs of their patients and provides patients with a additional NHS professional resources that can confidentiality and quickly address their needs when suffering from minor ailments. Please ask at reception for more information and a list of participating pharmacies.

We provide treatment for adults (over 18 years) with musculoskeletal (muscles, joints and bones) and orthopaedic conditions or injuries as well as chronic pain. This includes:

• Muscle and ligament conditions e.g. tennis/golfer’s elbow, frozen shoulder, repetitive strain injury
• Low back and neck pain
• Long term conditions e.g. osteoarthritis
• General joint pain
• Sports injuries e.g. ankle sprains, ligament injuries
• Pregnancy related musculoskeletal conditions
• Post-operative orthopaedic rehabilitation

Treatment may include :

• Back/neck rehabilitation
• Class/group exercise sessions
• Gym rehabilitation
• Electrotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Pilates
• Manual techniques
• Steroid injection therapy
• Further investigation
• Splints and insoles
• Pain management programme
• Psychological support

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements and help determine what vaccinations are required.

This initial appointment should be made least six weeks before you travel. A second appointment will be required at least two weeks before you travel for you to receive the vaccinations and allow time for the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

For further advice from the NHS regarding travel vaccinations please, click here.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please complete the Travel Questionnaire with as much detail as possible before coming to see the nurse.

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Available at the surgery include:

• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Baby Clinic Cervical Smears
• Family Planning
• Smoking Cessation Advice
• Flu Vaccinations
• Sexual health

Minor surgical procedures are carried out at the surgery by DR Herron Joint Injections are carried out at the surgery by DR Herron.

Provided by the community midwives who hold a clinic at Trafford General Hospital by appointment only.