**We are having a problem with Online Prescription ordering at present and it is temporarily unavailable. please use the practice email address reception.Z00606@gp.hscni.net**

Repeat Prescriptions

48hrs notice is required for all repeat prescriptions and medical certificates. Patients are asked to use the order form on the right hand side of the prescription.

To order you may:

• Email your written to Reception.Z00606@gp.hscni.net. 
• If you are a over the age of 70yrs or you are confined to your home, you may phone between10am-11.30pm and 2.00pm to 3.30pm daily.
• Yu must include a nominated pharmacy as prescriptions cannot be collected at the practice at this current time

All repeat prescriptions will be ready 48hrs after ordering 

Urgent or non-repeat prescriptions will be ready same day providing you telephone between 10am - 3.30pm

We do not accept repeat prescription requests via the telephone from persons under the age of 65yrs and able bodied (this is to avoid mistakes and to take pressure of the telephone system).

It is the responsibility of the patient to arrange for collection of their prescription. (If you ask a chemist to collect a prescription on your behalf, it is an arrangement between you and them.)

The practice will not fax or telephone prescriptions to pharmacies.  

Please allow up to 72 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed.

Repeat requests are emailed to the reception team, Reception.Z00606@gp.hscni.net

This inbox is monitored daily so there is no need to ring the practice to confirm receipt of an email request.

The reception team will contact you  directly if they have any questions regarding your request.

If you feel you need a prescription on-the-day, please call the reception team as early as possible on the day on 02871261137.

The reception team will ask you a few questions regarding your concern to allow the doctor to make a prompt and informed decision.

I would ask all of our patients to try to give as much information as possible as this will speed up the process considerably.

Requests received after 3pm will be processed the next working day.

Benzodiazepines are a group of medicines which are often used to treat anxiety e.g. diazepam, or used as sleeping tablets e.g. Temazepam or nitrazepam. The “Z” drugs (Zopiclone, Zolpidem) are other sleeping tablets that are similar to benzodiazepines in how they work.

These medicines can be effective at easing the symptoms of anxiety or aiding sleep and are meant for short-term use i.e. 2-4 weeks. If you take a benzodiazepine or “Z” drug regularly, after a few weeks the body and brain become used to it and the drug gradually loses its effect. There is a good chance that if you take a benzodiazepine or “Z” drug for more than 4 weeks you will become dependent on them/addicted to them. These medicines can cause side-effects when taken long-term such as memory problems, mood swings, drowsiness and slower reaction times.

Recognising the high use of these medicines in the Western Trust area the practice has put in place a reduction programme to help patients slowly reduce these medicines so they can start to feel more energetic and alert. This programme is run by our practice pharmacist along with our GPs and can include input from our practice social worker and mental health practitioner where appropriate.

The programme has already helped a large number of patients reduce these medicines until stopped and has many patients currently reducing. If you are taking these medicines and would like help stopping please contact our practice pharmacist today.

Please be aware that all patients  who are in receipt of these medications will be actively encouraged and supported to reduce once it is felt clinically appropriate.