What is an NHS repeat prescription?
The healthcare world is a vast one with a lot of jargon and medical terms, so it can be difficult to get your head around it all. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the information, especially if you’re on a new prescription and taking a new medication, or if you’ve just started speaking to your GP or pharmacist.
But fear not! As intimidating as the medical vernacular may seem, the basics are actually very simple – and we’re here to help you get an even better understanding of all things pharmaceutical, so the next time you speak with your GP or pharmacist will feel much less intimidating!
What is an NHS repeat prescription?
Something we’ve all heard is the term 'repeat prescription'. But what does it actually mean?
A prescription drug is a type of medication that is prescribed to you by a qualified health professional, such as your GP or pharmacist. This type of medication cannot and should not be obtained in any other way without a legal medical prescription from a professional.
An NHS ‘repeat’ prescription specifically is a prescription that requires a consistent top-up of the same medication. That is where Hey Pharmacist come in handy, as it can be tricky to remember to order your medication for your NHS repeat prescription.
With Hey Pharmacist, you can set reminders for your NHS repeat prescription so that you never forget when it’s time to order. We also keep you up to date with the status of your medication from order to collection so that you never have to follow up about your medication or make a needless trip to your pharmacist.
What’s the difference between a prescription and medication?
Two words that are often used in the same situation are ‘prescription’ and ‘medication’. Although at first, these may seem interchangeable, their definitions actually differ more than you may think! Medication is the drug/medicine that you’ll be taking, such as antibiotics. Prescription is the written instructions by a medical expert that proves a patient can legally take the medication.
For example, when using Hey Pharmacist, you will be using your NHS repeat prescription – provided by your GP – to order your medication. Simple!
What is an over-the-counter drug?
Prescription drugs are different to other medications available from your local pharmacy, which are known as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. These drugs don’t require a prescription but may require guidance from your pharmacist. Paracetamol is a common example of OTC drugs.
What is the difference between drugs and medicine?
Although they may be used in the same context, there are actually some notable differences between drugs and medicines. In simple terms, drugs take away some of the control you have of your body, such as painkillers, which takes away the feeling of pain in a particular area. On the other hand, medicine allows you to take back control of your body – such as eye drops so that you can feel your normal self again.
So there you have it, with just a handful of extra terms confidently added into your medical word bank, using Hey Pharmacist to order your NHS repeat prescription medication has never been simpler.
Here at Hey Pharmacist, we don’t only want to help you remember your NHS repeat prescriptions, we also want to help by giving you tips, tricks, and useful information about all things health and medical – so you can already rely on us for your healthcare needs.
Order your NHS repeat prescription now with Hey Pharmacist via our website or app!
To learn more about Hey Pharmacist, or if you have any unanswered questions, check out our Help and Support section.