Skerryvore Practice - How to order your repeat medications from the doctors surgery

Repeat Prescriptions

If you are on regular medication, your Doctor will want to discuss these medications with you approximately every 12 months.

Repeat prescriptions may be obtained by phoning our Repeat Prescription Line on 888 134.

You can also order your repeat prescription online by clicking the link at the top of this page.

Please allow 7 days notice before collecting your prescription from your preferred chemist.

This means, for example, if we receive your request on a Monday, it will be ready to collect from the chemist the following Monday afternoon. Please be aware if you order over the weekend we will only process your request on Monday.

With this in mind, please allow sufficient time to order your medication so that you do not run out.

Any chemist will dispense prescriptions written by the Practice. Our local chemists will collect prescriptions from the Practice.

The most efficient way to obtain your prescription is by choosing to collect from your preferred chemist, giving 7 days notice.

Prescribing for patients living or travelling abroad:

The NHS accepts responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for the treatment of existing long-term conditions for up to three months when a patient travels abroad.

If a person is going to be abroad for more than three months, then only a sufficient supply of their regular medication will be provided to enable them to get to the destination and find an alternative supply.

NHS prescriptions must not be obtained by relatives or friends on behalf of patients who are currently abroad.

Patients are responsible for ensuring that any drugs they take into a country conform to local laws.

If a patient is travelling abroad for longer than 3 months, they are expected to arrange for alternative access to care and supply of medication at their destination.

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.

Patients out of the country for more than 3 months will be advised to register with a doctor in the country they are visiting/residing for their on-going medical needs.

Repeat Prescription Line - Tel: 888 134

We now have a designated phone line which you can call and leave a message to request your repeat prescription - 888 134

Please include the following information in your message:

Your name
Date of birth
Medications you require
Contact number and
The chemist you'd like your prescription to go to

Please also let us know if you would like your repeat prescription list printed as these no longer print automatically.

Your prescription will be ready to collect from the chemist 7 days after we process your request - Please be aware if you order over the weekend we will only process your request on Monday.

If you require your medications before 7 days please contact the Practice on our normal phone number.

Please only order what you need to maintain stocks for those who need them.

This phone line is for repeat medication requests only - Please contact the Practice on our normal number with all other queries.

Pharmacies

Pharmacists dispense prescriptions and other medicines, offer testing and screening for common conditions, and can advise on minor ailments.

Did you know you can see your pharmacist for advice on minor ailments and common conditions such as colds, coughs, aches, and pains? They also provide many services such as blood pressure testing, healthy eating advice, travel health, incontinence products, and nicotine replacement therapy.

Pharmacists can also help you decide whether you need to see a doctor.

They are experts in medicines and will use their clinical expertise, together with their practical knowledge, to ensure the safe supply and use of medicines.

Our local Pharmacies are:

Boots Pharmacy
49-51 Albert Street
Kirkwall
Telephone: 01856 872097

Open Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm

Sutherlands Pharmacy
43 Victoria Street
Kirkwall
Telephone: 01856 888890

Open Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm

Sutherlands Pharmacy - Stromness
74 Victoria Street
Stromness
Telephone: 01856 850338

Open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 9.00am - 5.30pm, Thurs 9.00am - 2.00pm

Norsepharm - Dounby
Vetquoy
Dounby
Telephone: 01856 771550

Open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Who can use NHS Pharmacy First Scotland?

You can use NHS Pharmacy First Scotland if you are registered with a GP Practice in Scotland or you live in Scotland.

Speak to the pharmacy team if you need more details.

How does the service work?

Pharmacists and their teams are experts in medicines and can help with minor health concerns.

A pharmacist can give you advice and treatment (if you need it) for various minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.

Conditions you can get help for

Your pharmacist can advise you about conditions such as:

Acne
Allergies
Athlete's foot
Backache
Blocked or runny nose
Coldsores
Constipation
Cough
Cystitis (in women)
Diarrhoea
Earache
Eczema
Headache
Headlice
Haemorrhoids (piles)
Hay fever
Impetigo
Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Pain
Period pain
Sore throat
Threadworms
Thrush
Urinary tract infections (UTI's)
Verrucas
Warts

Pharmacists, like GPs, can only provide certain medicines and products on the NHS. All of these are proven to be effective in treating your condition.

If you want a specific medicine or product, you may need to buy it. The pharmacist will give you advice on this.

If the pharmacist thinks it is better for you to see your GP or another healthcare professional, they may refer you directly or tell you to make an appointment.

How do I use the service?

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is available from all pharmacies in Scotland that dispense NHS prescriptions.

You can choose which pharmacy to use.

In most cases, you don’t have to make an appointment.

When you visit the pharmacy, the pharmacist (or one of their team) will ask you for some information, including your name, date of birth and postcode.

The pharmacist will:

ask you about your symptoms
give you advice on your condition
provide medication (if you need it)
refer you to another healthcare professional (for example, your GP) if they think this is necessary
set up a Patient Medication Record (PMR) to make a note of any advice and treatment they give you

You can ask to use the pharmacy’s consultation area or room if you want to speak to the pharmacist in private.

Can I still go to other pharmacies?

You can go to any pharmacy to buy medicines, collect prescriptions or use the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service. You don’t need to always use the same one.

However, if you always use the same pharmacy, the pharmacist can build a record of your treatment, which may help you to manage your condition more effectively. This record is not shared with anyone else.

What if I’m unhappy with the service I have received from the pharmacy?

Talk to the pharmacist so they can try to sort the matter out immediately.

If you can’t do this, or if you have already spoken to your pharmacist and are still unhappy, you can contact the feedback and complaints team at your local NHS health board.

Emergency Prescription Requests

Skerryvore patients

If you have less than 7 days of your usual medication left you will need to contact the practice on 01856 888240 and speak to one of our admin team so that we can request that pharmacy make up your medication urgently. If you need your medication the same day you will need to come along to the practice after 4.30pm and collect the paper copy to take to the practice.

If you are visiting the area and require a supply of your usual medication, please see the information below:

Scottish Residents

Report to the local Community Pharmacy. An emergency supply may be issued to a maximum of one full repeat cycle at the Pharmacist’s discretion. The Pharmacist may ask you to contact your regular GP surgery to confirm your details. There will be no charge for this service.

UK Residents (out with Scotland)

Report to the local Community Pharmacy. An emergency supply may be issued for up to 30 days at the Pharmacist’s discretion. The Pharmacist will need to see proof that this is a regular medication that has been prescribed within the last 6 months. There will be a charge for this.

EU & Swiss Residents (out with UK)

Report to the local Community Pharmacy. An emergency supply may be issued for up to 30 days at the Pharmacist’s discretion. There will be a charge for this.

Residents out with the EU & Switzerland

You will need to register as a temporary patient with the local GP surgery. You will need to wait for an available GP appointment. A private prescription may be issued at the GP’s discretion. You will need to present the prescription to the local Community Pharmacy for dispensing. There will be a charge at the Community Pharmacy for the prescribed item.

Please note that if you require certain drugs including controlled medications, strong pain killers, benzodiazepines etc. you will need a prescription from a GP. Our doctors will insist on making contact with your own doctor before issuing a prescription. Please bring contact details with you and expect a longer processing time. In these situations, we cannot guarantee that we will issue a prescription and our doctors’ decision in such circumstances is final.

For more detailed information please read this NHS Inform page on Healthcare in Scotland for holiday makers from overseas

The details of all community pharmacies in Orkney is available here