Christmas Medication ordering.
As Christmas approaches, our dispensary team begins preparing for one of the busiest periods of the year. We would like to thank patients for their support and ask for your help in ensuring that medication requests can be processed as safely and efficiently as possible.
The good news is that there is no need to order your medication significantly earlier than usual, and there is no need to request two months' worth of medication to cover the Christmas period. Doctors Lane Surgery will only be closed on Christmas Day and the substitute Bank Holiday for Boxing Day, with services otherwise operating as normal.
What helps us most is for patients to continue ordering their medication in the usual way and at the usual time. Repeat prescription requests require at least two working days' notice to process (not including the day the request is submitted). If a medication review or GP input is required, processing may take longer.
To help avoid delays, we recommend ordering medication around one week before you are due to run out. This allows our dispensary team time to process your request and order in any medicines that are not currently in stock.
We would also encourage patients to order online wherever possible. Online ordering is quick, convenient and helps reduce administrative workload during what is already an extremely busy time. Patients can order through the NHS App or our online services. If you need help setting this up, please contact the surgery and we will be happy to assist.
For patients who are unable to order online, repeat request slips can be dropped into the surgery at any time. They may also be handed in at Barton Post Office, although requests submitted there require an additional working day to allow for collection and delivery to the surgery.
Once you have ordered your medication, please help us by waiting until you receive a text message confirming that your prescription is ready for collection before attending the dispensary. If we have a mobile telephone number recorded for you, this message will be sent automatically when your medication is ready. This helps to reduce unnecessary journeys for patients and interruptions for our dispensary team while they are preparing prescriptions.
We would particularly ask patients to avoid leaving requests until the last minute during the week commencing 21st December. Whilst we will do our best to accommodate requests, the volume of prescription processing at that time can be extremely high. In some cases, late requests may need to be issued as a prescription for you to take to a local community pharmacy/chemist, rather than being dispensed by the surgery.
By ordering in good time and using online services where possible, you can help our dispensary team manage the increased Christmas workload and ensure that medication is available for those who need it.
Thank you for your continued support, and from everyone at Doctors Lane Surgery, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Doctors Williamson, Roome, and Davies,
GP Partners, Doctors Lane Surgery.