Monthly “standing order”: Most of our patients complete the order form for next month when they collect the current month’s prescription. Simply tick the boxes next to the medication you require and hand it to the dispenser before you leave.  We will give you a date in 28 days’ time when your next order will be ready.  We suggest you make a note of this date so you don’t come to collect your prescription before it is ready!

(Please note: the date printed on the label on each medicine is not the collection date – it shows when we printed your order, which could be up to a week earlier, so please go by the date we give you when you actually collect your medications.)

You can also order by:

• Online: Register with SystmOnline to order your repeat medication or book appointments,  ask reception for details.
• Post Complete your order form and post it to the Surgery.
• In person Drop your order into the post box outside the Dispensary, or ask a receptionist or dispenser to take your order verbally.

Email: email address is for medication queries only portesham.dispensary@dorsetgp.nhs.uk 

Please order your repeat prescription at least 1 week before you need it (we need time to print the script, order the goods, dispense the order and check it).  

We are a dispensing Practice, which means that you can collect all your regularly prescribed medicines from our in-house Dispensary.  When you visit the doctor and need an urgent (“acute”) prescription we can prepare it for you while you wait.  Our team of experienced dispensers handles around 6,000 items per month.

Caroline Cox, Jo Barratt, Emma Cormack, Carolyn Quinn, Becky Travers and Michelle Akers can advise you on your medications.

NEW Opening Hours:

From 1st December the dispensary opening hours for collections are 08:30 – 12:00 and 16:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. We hope that the longer collection time in the afternoons will save too much waiting time in these dark winter days!

We are currently experiencing long waiting times for collections. For repeat prescriptions ordered in person, post or online please can we ask that you give the dispensary at least 1 weeks notice where possible.

Please note that we no longer take routine orders by telephone because of the possibility of errors if orders are given verbally, and to keep the busy lines free for urgent calls and GP consultations with patients.  We make exceptions for elderly patients who have no other means of contacting us, and for emergencies – for example if you have run out of a crucial medication.

To help patients living some distance from the Surgery, and with the kind assistance of some local businesses, we can arrange for your prescription to be delivered to a post office, shop or pub near you.  Click here for details. 

Please collect promptly (within 5 days) from these collection points, as it is unfair to expect businesses to store your medication for longer than this, and to comply with the new European legislation on Falsified Medicines which instruct us to return uncollected medication to stock within 10 days of being ordered.

If you need to place an order urgently (for example if you run out of medicine) please telephone Reception on 01305 871468, ideally before 11 am.  We will do our best to help you and can sometimes prepare your medications for collection on the same day after 16:00, provided we have the medication in stock.  However, if you habitually order at the last minute we may not be able to accommodate you – every late order disrupts the workflow and may delay another patient’s medication order so please plan ahead!

When the surgery is closed, you can get certain emergency medicine from a minor injuries unit (see our opening times page for out of hours information).  

If you have a prescription you can take it to a late-night pharmacy, but if not you would have to call the Out of Hours service to speak to a duty doctor.

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.

If you have unwanted medicines at home (tablets, creams or liquids) please return these to our Dispensary, where we can dispose of them safely for you.  You should not dispose of medicines where they will end up in landfill or in the water table, so don’t flush them down the sink or toilet, or put them in your household waste.

Please note:

• That the cost of your prescription does not always cover the cost of the drugs we prescribe for you. Try not to order more medicine than you need, as this can be wasteful as well as dangerous.
• Once drugs have left the Surgery premises we cannot re-use them and have to dispose of them.
• If you have side-effects which may be from a newly-prescribed drug, don’t just stop taking the medicine; contact us for advice.  Our GPs are happy to discuss such issues over the phone where appropriate.