We have had many patients who have joined us from other practices where a review has not been the normal procedure and they have been somewhat annoyed when have asked to review their medication.  ‘ I’ve always had this and my last practice never asked to review my needs’ if often the comment we receive.  The medication review is only for your benefit to  make sure the medication you receive is still the right one for you.  It may be necessary to increase or decrease the dose, but unless the doctor can see you to discuss this they cannot do so.  So please do not be offended if we ask you to attend a medication review as it is for your own good.

When we have stamped your prescription asking you to make an appointment for medication review please mention this when making your appointment.  We hope that this will speed up your consultation with the doctor if they have some idea what the appointment is about. Please do not get annoyed with our receptionists if they ask several questions when you pick up a prescription, it is only to ensure the person receiving the prescription is the one is made out for. There are many patients in the practice who have the same name so it is only the receptionists’ way of making sure the prescription goes to the right person.

If you are in any doubt as to the medication you think you should receive or you want something different we have a special form where you can put down your requirements and at the end of the  morning surgery we will pass this to the doctor who looks after the prescriptions that day.  The doctor will either sanction , change or maybe say no to your request or maybe suggest a different mediation.  They may even ask you to come in to carry out tests before they issue a particular type of medication. Details of any medication given to you by the hospital may take some time to reach us and be entered on to your records. On occasions we may ask you make a medication review appointment regarding the medication given by the hospital.

We trust this information will help to show you that we are doing all we can to make sure you get the right medication at all times.  Many of the systems we have in place are now recognised as ‘good practice; and have been adopted by other practices. When you collect your prescription you will find, in the case of repeat medication, that we have attached the old form you have ticked to the new one so that you can check when you collect your prescription that you have all that you ordered