How To Request a Repeat Prescription

💻Online

Using your NHS App NHS App

Using Our online system SystmOnline

🏥In Person

To order your repeat medication, please:

• Tick the boxes on your green repeat medication slip, or

• Write a note clearly stating the medications you require

Then drop your request off at either of our practices.

💊Your Community Pharmacy

You can let your community pharmacy know which medicines you need, and they can submit a repeat prescription request on your behalf to the practice.

Please allow 7 working days (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays) for your request to be processed. The pharmacies may need further time to dispense your medication. 

Please also note that it is practice policy (in accordance with West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group) to prescribe only one month's supply of medication on each repeat prescription. 

Electronic Prescribing Services

This practice is set up for the electronic prescription service.

This means that for most patients we can send your prescription to your chosen chemist directly saving you having to come down to the surgery.

To get your prescription sent to your chosen pharmacy you will have to ask reception to sign up.

Christmas Prescription Collections

Main Site - Open as usual

Great Chesterford  

Last day for prescription collections Tuesday 23^rd December 2025

Closed Wednesday 24^th December 2025, Thursday 25^th December 2025, Friday 26^th December 2025

Open on 29^th & 30th December 2025

Closed Wednesday 31^st December 2025, Thursday 1^st January 2026, Friday 2^nd January 2026.

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.

• NHS Prescription Charges

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.

Outpatients Prescriptions

Any outpatient prescriptions will not be processed by the practice and these should be be taken to the outpatients pharmacy at the hospital you attended,

Clinic Letter and Discharge Summaries

When we have received a clinic letter or discharge summary from the hospital that requests medication or change to a medication these will be completed within two weeks of receiving the letter.

Crocus Medical Practice does NOT prescribe sedatives for fear of flying or medical procedures under specialist care.

This policy decision has been made by the GP Partners and is adhered to by all prescribers working in the practice. The reasons for this can be found below:

1. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and react to the situation. This could have serious safety consequences for you and those around you.
2. Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at increased risk of developing a blood clot in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than four hours.
3. Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have agitation and aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers.
4. According to the prescribing guidelines clinicians follow (BNF) Benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not allowed) in phobia. Your clinician is taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight.
5. Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in several countries. They may be confiscated, or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
6. Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to random drug testing, you may fail this having taken diazepam.
7. For any medical procedures such as an MRI, CT scan on dental procedures, this should be discussed with your specialist. They will make an informed clinical decision on the risks and benefits in prescribing this to you, for the purpose of the procedure.
8. We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening. A much better approach is to tackle this properly with a Fear of Flying course run by the airlines and we have listed a number of these below.
9. It is important to tell your travel insurer about your medical conditions and medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try to make a claim.

Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com Tel 0203 8131644

British Airways www.flyingwithconfidence.com  Tel 01252 793250

Virgin www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk  Tel 01423 714900

https://thefearofflying.com/programs/fly-and-be-calm/