Prescriptions at Perranporth Surgery

Using the NHS App is now the most efficient method to order medication. The NHS App also allows you to view your patient record, vaccination history, covid passports and much much more.

You can still request using SystmOnline through a web browser. SystmOne now has a new patient facing App called Airmid. Airmid provides users with existing SystmOnline functionality plus lots more. SystmOnline – TPP (tpp-uk.com)

For any medication queries, please use the "Contact Us Online" button to the top right of this page.

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to speak to a doctor or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Perranporth Surgery runs its own dispensary situated within the surgery building opposite reception. Here you can order repeat precriptions and if you are a dispensing patient or a visitor, you may obtain your medication from here.

Dispensary Opening Hours

Monday to Friday - 11am to 12.30pm & 2pm to 4pm

How do I become a dispensing patient?

If you live in Newlyn East, Rejerrah, Cubert, Trevellas and Zelah you are entitled to be a dispensing patient. Medications are prepared by our dispensers and can be picked up directly from the surgery or at our drop off points (the village shop in Newlyn East and the Post Office in Cubert). Deliveries are made on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to Newlyn East and Cubert. We deliver to individual patients in Zelah on Fridays.

If you reside within these areas and would like to become a dispensing patient, please speak to our dispensary and you will be given a consent form to sign.

What are the advantages of being a dispensing patient?

We believe we offer a fast efficient, patient centred service that is closely connected to your doctor and responsive to patient needs.

Contacting the Dispensary

Contact the dispensary on Tel: 01872 572255, option 3, between 11 – 12:30 &  2 – 4.

If you need to order your medication early because you are going to be away on holiday please explain this to us when you request your prescription.  If you need extra medication because you plan to be away for a while please inform us.  Please speak to our staff in the dispensary either in person, by telephoning 01872 572255 option 3 or emailing on dispensers.perranporth@nhs.net Please note, we can only prescribe up to 3 months supply for travel.

Please contact your dentist for dental problems, any dental prescription must be done by a dental practitioner.  As general practitioners we are not qualified to nor insured to prescribe such medication for this purpose, and we advise that you contact your own dentist or contact the emergency dentist on 0333 4050 290 or contact 111.

Please be aware that requests for benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam or lorazepam, for the purpose of air travel will not be accepted due to high risk of respiratory suppression.

We have several reasons why we have taken this decision:

1. Diazepam is a sedative. This means, the medication makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there would be an emergency during the flight, this could impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions, or react to the situation. This could seriously affect the safety of you and the people around you.
2. Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however, when you sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means, your movements during sleep are reduced and this can place you at an increased risk of developing blood clots (DVT). These blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk further increases if your flight is over 4 hours long.
3. Although most people respond to benzodiazepines like Diazepam with sedation, a small proportion experiences the opposite effect and can become aggressive. They can also lead to disinhibition and make you behave in ways you normally wouldn’t. This could also impact on your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers or could lead you to get in trouble with the law.
4. National prescribing guidelines followed by doctors also don’t allow the use of benzodiazepines in cases or phobia. Any doctor prescribing diazepam for a fear of flying would be taking a significant legal risk as this goes against these guidelines. Benzodiazepines are only licensed for short-term use in a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the problem you suffer with, you should seek proper care and support for your mental health, and it would not be advisable to go on a flight.
5. In several countries, diazepam and similar drugs are illegal. They would be confiscated, and you might find yourself in trouble with the police for being in control of an illegal substance. 6. Diazepam has a long half-life. This means it stays in your system for a significant time and you may fail random drug testing if you are subjected to such testing as is required in some jobs.

We appreciate a fear of flying is very real and very frightening and can be debilitating. However, there are much better and effective ways of tackling the problem. We recommend you tackle your problem with a Fear of Flying Course, which is run by several airlines. These courses are far more effective than diazepam, they have none of the undesirable effects and the positive effects of the courses continue after the courses have been completed.

Please inform us of any suspected allergies/reactions you have to any medications.

Unused medications should be returned to a pharmacy, do not discard it in ordinary waste.  Unused medication can be returned to our dispensary.

A large amount of money is wasted on unused drugs.  Please help by only ordering what you need.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.

he practice currently provides 28 days prescriptions for all patients.  This is based on current NHS guidelines.  The benefits of 28 day prescribing include:

• Reducing the amount of medication which is currently wasted when your doctor stops/changes your medication (once medication leaves dispensary/pharmacy they cannot be reused and have to be destroyed)
• Reducing the potential for error when your medication is changed in the middle of supply.
• Increased safety as you will not have multiple containers of the same medicine meaning it is likely to reduce the number of mistakes made by patients, and it will also reduce the risk of potential poisoning of young children.
• Financial losses due to medication waste represent a direct loss to patient care.  Since 28 day prescribing reduces medication waste, this in turn has a positive impact on patient care.

Most patients collecting repeat prescriptions do not pay prescription charges; therefore, there will be no difference to these patients in terms of cost due to 28-day prescribing.  If you do have to pay prescription charges, then it may be beneficial for you to buy a Prescription Prepayment Certificate, especially if you are taking 2 or more medicines on a regular basis - ask at your local pharmacy or one of our dispensary team for more information.  Or contact the NHS Business Services Authority on 0845 8500030, or vist their website http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx 

If you are going away and need more than 28days of medication, we can provide up to a maximum of 3 months supply.

The only exceptions for this policy will be for HRT, contraception and as required medicines.