Upton Group Practice

Repeat prescriptions of the contraceptive pill (The Pill) and repeat prescriptions of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

It is important to remember that you cannot put in repeat prescription requests for the Pill or for HRT as you would for other medications.

Once the doctor is satisfied that the contraceptive pill  or HRT you are on is the most suitable one for you they will usually issue a prescription for a six-month supply.    As you use the last pack of this six-month supply you need to contact the practice to make a further appointment to see the Practice Nurse, so that your blood pressure can be checked and a further six-month prescription can be issued. 

It is important that you are then seen every six months so that we can check your blood pressure and ensure that you are not encountering any other problems whilst on the Pill or on HRT    A further supply of your medication cannot be issued unless you have this check.   After the initial issue of a six month supply of your Pill (or HRT) and the first follow-up check by the Practice Nurse (as you need your next six-month prescription) you will be seen alternately by the  Doctor and the Practice Nurse.   Please try to remember who you saw last time.   

If it was the Practice Nurse you saw last time you need to book your next six- monthly appointment with the Doctor. 

If it was the Doctor you saw last time you need to make the next  six-monthly appointment with the Practice Nurse.

You can ring the surgery up to a month before you need your appointment if you wish to pre-book one of the earlier appointments in the morning or a later evening appointment.   However closer to the day that you wish to be seen our appointments are released only half a day ahead under the Advanced Access system.   It is better to book ahead if you can. 

Should you forget to make an appointment as you have used up your six-month supply of the Pill then it is possible that the doctor may issue a prescription for a one-month supply of the Pill on condition that you make an appointment to come in for a review and blood pressure check and so that a further six-month prescription can be authorised.   Please contact the surgery as soon as you can and advise the Receptionist that you need a further prescription for the Pill.   She will be able to make a routine appointment for you to come in to see the Doctor or Practice Nurse (as appropriate) and, if you do need a one-month prescription to tide you over until you have been in for your appointment, she will pass the message on to the Doctor so that this can be arranged.  It is possible that the Doctor may need to contact you by telephone so if you can leave a contact telephone number with the Receptionist this will help.

The system is slightly different if you run out of HRT, as a prescription for a one month supply is not issued.   In this case a prescription can be issued for the normal course of HRT provided you make a routine appointment for a blood pressure check within 5 working days.

Our surgery is open every weekday

from 0830am to 1230pm and

from 1-30pm to 6-15pm. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.   Can I book an Urgent appointment for my Pill/HRT check?

A.   No – Urgent appointments are reserved for serious problems and we ask that you do not take up an Urgent appointment for a Pill/HRT check.   As explained here a one- month supply can be issued in an emergency and an appointment will be made for you to see the Doctor for a further six-month prescription.

Q.   Why did the Receptionist need me to explain that the medication I required is the Pill/HRT?   It was embarrassing having to explain.

A.   Our Reception staff cannot be aware of all the names of medication prescribed here at our surgery and they do need to know if the medication you are requesting is either the Pill or HRT because there is a different protocol (as outlined above) for repeat prescriptions of these items.  They do not ask to embarrass you but simply to ascertain what it is they need to do to help you.  Please be assured that confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

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Last modified: 15/09/2005