Prescriptions

Queries regarding Pharmacies 

We are having an increase in the number of queries regarding Prescription Processing issues with local Pharmacies. Please be advised we cannot help, or control local pharmacy processing times or handle complaints or concerns about any pharmacy. If you have concerns about Pharmacy processing times or any other issues we advise you to contact the Pharmacy directly.

The Pharmacy at Chawton Park Surgery Practice site, is owned and operated by Chawton Park Pharmacy (Eclipse Group). They are completely independent from the Practice and we cannot assist with queries or complaints. 

We do recommend that patients download the NHS App to help with ordering and managing their medication requests.  If you need help in doing this, please click on Charli our digital assistant who will take you through a simple step by step process. Charli can also show you how to order your prescriptions once you have downloaded the App.

Repeat Prescriptions

All repeat prescription requests are managed by Nikki, our Prescription Manager and Charlotte. If you have any prescription queries they can be contacted on 01420 542542.

Please check the repeat form (that is issued with the prescription) for messages from your doctor. If you need a medication review it will be printed on this form and you may be asked to make an appointment before your next repeat prescription is issued.

Ordering repeat prescriptions

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.

You can also:

  • bring the paper form to the surgery, during opening hours then put this request in our post box, which is located outside our front door
  • via your pharmacy

For safety reasons we cannot accept requests for prescriptions over the telephone. Mistakes can be made taking down complicated medicine requests and it busies the telephone system, which could delay an emergency call being answered.

Prescriptions can be delivered to a local chemist of your choice: Your local Chawton Park Pharmacy, Boots main branch, Alton Community Pharmacy, Anstey Road Pharmacy or Four Marks Pharmacy. Please request this on the repeat slip.

Request prescription

Request medication online using the Prescription Request Form.

Prescription Request Form

Collecting your prescription

Give at least of 48 hours’ notice (2 full working days). Please allow extra time for weekends and bank holidays.

Collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 working days after you have ordered it.

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy. This means that you do not have to come to the surgery to collect your prescription and then take it to a chemist.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:

  • on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
  • at your GP practice
  • at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions.
If you need a medication that you have never had before or one that you had over three months, the GPs will request that either an Accrux request is completed or we will need to book a telephone consultation with one of our clinical team. 

Private Referrals and Prescriptions

This is to confirm that as part of the process when a private referral is made is to make sure our patients are aware that the first prescription that you may receive from the private Consultant, will be a private prescription. The Practice will not be able to convert this to an NHS prescription.

After receiving your first Private prescription, there are certain criteria that will need to be considered before the Practice would be able to take on the prescribing responsibility for a new medication.

It is the position of the Chawton Park Surgery that our prescribers e.g. doctors or prescribing nurses, can provide some medicines on the NHS on advice from a clinician in the private sector.

However, there are a number of circumstances when our prescribers will decline the request or offer to prescribe an alternative medicine.

He or she may decline to prescribe if:

  • A letter explaining the full rational for the treatment has not been provided by the consultant in the private sector.
  • He or she feels the medicine is not clinically necessary.
  • The medication is unlicensed.
  • The medication is prescribed outside of its licensed indication.
  • The medication is not one he or she would normally prescribe.
  • The medication needs special monitoring and he or she feels they do not have the expertise to do this.
  • The use of the medication conflicts with NICE guidance or locally agreed protocols.
  • An equivalent but equally effective medicine is prescribed locally under prescribing advice from the CCG.  In this situation you will be offered the equivalent medicine.

In any of these circumstances you will retain the option of purchasing the recommended medicine via a prescription from your consultant in the private sector.

There is also no provision for refunding any money already spent on private treatment, including medicines.

Non-urgent advice: Why can’t I get a prescription for an over-the-counter medicine?

Please don’t ask your GP for medicines which can be bought at the pharmacy. A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.

Further information about OTC medicines is available from NHS UK

Questions about your prescription

If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on medicines you can buy without a prescription.

The NHS website has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

Go to the Medicines A to Z

If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.

If you are taking medicines abroad, it is advisable to check UK rules and those of the country that you are visiting. Please talk to your doctor or practice nurse at least two months before making your trip abroad. Please visit: Travel Health Pro for further information and guidance.
If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, an HRT PPC could save you money.
Each item on an NHS prescription usually costs £9.65. You can buy an HRT PPC for a one-off payment of £19.30 (the cost of two single items). The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months, regardless of why they are prescribed.

The HRT PPC does not cover all HRT medicines. Check if it covers your HRT medicine.

If your HRT medicine is not covered, or you also get prescriptions for items other than HRT medicine, you may save more with a 3 or 12 month PPC that covers all NHS prescriptions.

Before buying an HRT PPC, check if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs using our eligibility checker.

Information taken from NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA 
On rare occasions, medicines can have an adverse effect. If you experience any such issues, please get on touch with the surgery immediately. An App is available for reporting adverse reactions.
Download the Yellow Card mobile app

Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.

Opioids provide pain relief by acting on areas in the spinal cord and brain to block the transmission of pain signals. Opioids are considered to be some of the strongest painkillers available and are used to treat pain after surgery, serious injury and cancer. Examples of these include codeine, dihydrocodeine and co-codamol (which contains paracetamol and codeine).

What dose of opioid should I take?

The correct dose of any medicine is the lowest dose that produces a noticeable benefit. It is not usual to get complete relief of pain from opioids. Your GP may recommend an “opiate trial” for 2-3 weeks, then review if the benefits of taking the medication outweigh the risks. You should always take the correct dose of prescribed medicines. If you feel the dose isn’t enough, or if the side effects interfere with your life, discuss this with your GP.

What are the possible side effects?

When you first start taking opioids you can get some side effects, which usually stop after a few days. These include:
feeling dizzy
feeling sick (nausea)
being sick (vomiting)
feeling sleepy If pain has affected your sleep, opioids may help you to recover your normal pattern of sleep, but they should not make you drowsy in the daytime. Opioid medicines can cause some problems when you take them for long periods of time.
These problems include:
constipation*
itching
weight gain
lack of sex drive
* This is common when taking opioids and does not tend to go away the longer you take opioid medicines. You may need to try laxatives to treat constipation.

Can I drink alcohol?

Alcohol and opioids both can cause sleepiness and poor concentration. You should avoid alcohol completely when you first start on opioids or when your dose has just been increased.

Will my body get used to opioid medicines?

Opioids can become less effective with time (this is called tolerance) meaning your body has got used to the pain relieving effect of the medicine. You can also become dependent on opioid medicines (dependence).

What about addiction to opioids?

It is rare for people in pain to become addicted to opioids. People who are addicted to opioids can:
feel out of control about how much medicine they take or how often they take it
crave the drug
continue to take the drug even when it has a negative effect on their physical or mental health

Can I take this medicine long-term?

While opioids can have a positive benefit for some people living with long-term pain they can have serious consequences when they are not providing sufficient benefit or are being taken in a manner that was not intended. It is important to consider the risks and benefits of continued opioid therapy with your prescriber on a regular basis. Recent medical literature suggests that the risks to your health increase significantly when prescribing opioids at high doses for a long period of time.
Local Pharmacies

Name of PharmacyAddressNormal HoursContact
Anstey Road PharmacyAlton Health Centre
Anstey Road
Alton		Weekdays: 7am to 10.30pm
Sat: 8am to 9.30pm
Sun: 10am to 7pm		01420 88327
Boots52, High Street
Alton		Weekdays: 8.30am to 6pm
Sat: 8.30am to 5.30pm
Sun: 10am to 4pm		01420 83126
Four Marks Pharmacy4 Oak Green Parade
Four Marks		Weekdays: 9am to 6.30 pm
Sat: Closed		01420 561270
Wellbeing Pharmacy68, High Street
Alton
GU34 1ET		Weekdays: 9am to 7pm
Sat: 9am to 1pm		01420 83176
Boots Chawton ParkChawton Park Road
Alton		Mon to Thurs: 8am to 6.30pm
Fri: 7am to 6.30pm
Sat: 830am to 12.30pm		01420 590245
SainsburySainsbury01252 718061
Tesco Aldershot0845 6779 004
Boots midnight PharmacySwan Surgery Petersfield 01730 264 943
Tesco ChinehamTesco Chineham01256 824104
Asda Farnborogh01252 376074

About pharmacists

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:

  • coughs
  • colds
  • sore throats
  • tummy trouble
  • aches and pains

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

Find a pharmacy near you

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

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