The link above will connect you to a contraceptive pill annual review questionaire and request form. Please complete the online form which will be reviewed by one of the Practice doctors, nurses or pharmacists. For the majority of patients a face to face review will not be required and a response will come via e-mail or a telephone call or text before the end of the next working day. 

The link above will connet you to a HRT annual review questionaire and request form. Please complete the online form which will be reviewed by one of the Practice doctors, nurses or pharmacists.

For the maJority of patients a face to face review will not be required and a response will come via telephone call, or text.

Click on the links below for more information on the menopause and HRT.

Patient information on HRT

Does hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increase cancer risk?

How should I check my breasts?

Menopause matters

As part of our ongoing commitment to your health we undertake an annual medication review on patients on repeat medication. This is done in the month of your birth and you should receive a letter or email to invite you to be part of this process.

Depending on the types of medication you are currently taking you may be asked to have a blood test and a face to face consultation with the Practice pharmacist or nurse, whilst other medication can be renewed without you needing to visit the surgery. For more information click here.

Changes to Medication Timeframes from 1 April 2022

At your next annual review (or sooner), if you normally get your prescription every 28 days, your prescription will be reviewed to see if the number of days medication you are provided could be extended to 56 days.

This will help to:

• Reduce the number of trips you need to make to a community pharmacy/ GP practice per year
• Free up time for both GP practices and community pharmacies to provide services to patients

Some patients will not be suitable to change because:

• Of the types of medication you take (for example strong painkillers, new medication or medication that requires close monitoring)
• You need additional support for your medication (for example you have your medication dispensed in a compliance aid or a carer administers your medication) 

Please continue to Help Us to Help You by ordering your prescriptions 7 days in advance of when they are due, to allow time for both the GP and community pharmacy to deal with the request.

Please continue to only order what you need and return any unused or unwanted medication to community pharmacies for safe disposal. Order your medication electronically via My Health Online where possible.

Batch Prescribing/Dispensing

If you or someone you care for use the same medicines regularly you may not need to get a new prescription every time you need more medicine. Instead you may be able to benefit from Batch Repeat Dispensing from your pharmacy. This means you won’t have to visit the surgery or make an appointment to see the doctor, practice nurse or practice pharmacist every time you need more medicine.  Talk to either your prescriber (doctor, practice nurse or practice pharmacist) or your community pharmacist who regularly dispenses your prescriptions and ask them if you are suitable for Batch Repeat Dispensing.

Prescribing Policy for Patients Travelling Abroad

This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time.

NHS Policy

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.  In addition GP practices are not required by their terms of service to provide “just in case” prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad.

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication. For more information please see All Wales Medicines Strategy Group Guidelines: AWMSG prescribing guide | Independent professional body guideline | Guidelines

Western Vale Family Practice Policy

Travelling out of the country for less than 3 months
for patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so.  Drugs that require frequent monitoring (e.g. DMARDs, DOACs, etc) may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns.

Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months
Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months’ supply where safe to do so). Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.

Prescriptions for medicines “just in case” of illness while abroad

Prescribers at this practice will only prescribe NHS prescriptions in this case for exacerbations of pre-existing illnesses; (e.g. antibiotics for patients who have frequent infections secondary to an underlying lung condition).

GPs may provide private prescriptions if it is clinically appropriate and they can be self-administered safely without medical assessment while abroad. These prescriptions are not free.

Patients should be aware that some drugs commonly prescribed in the UK may be illegal in certain countries and they should  check with that country’s embassy before they travel.

Prescribing Policy for Controlled drugs, Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs

There are specific rules that apply to controlled drugs:

• Only up to 30 days’ supply is allowed on one prescription.
• You must collect medicines from the pharmacy within 28 days of the date on the prescription.
• Any medicine ‘owed’ to you by the pharmacy must also be collected by that date.
• All patients will need to request and collect repeat prescriptions each month from their GP practice. It will no longer be possible to get your medicine from the pharmacy using repeat or ‘batch’ dispensing.
• You or your representative will need to sign and show proof of identity at the pharmacy to be able to collect your medicine.

Please remember to order your medicine in good time. As of 1 April 2019, Pregabalin and Gabapentin (Lyrica, Alzain, Neurontin) have been reclassified as controlled drugs. 

The Practice has a prescribing policy for Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. The doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in this Practice will prescribe hypnotics and anxiolytics (benzodiazepines and z-drugs) in line with national and locally developed guidelines. Please click here to see our Practice Policy.