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patient information: prescriptions

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5. The prescription form

What is this prescription form for?

Many medicines are dangerous and only intended for a specific patient. The prescription form is for you and tells a pharmacist that your doctor has agreed that you need specific medicines.

You will need to go to a chemist shop to collect your medicines. Here, a pharmacist will help you to complete the form. They will take the form and give you the prescribed medicines. You may also be able to collect prescribed medicines at some doctors' surgeries.

Is there a charge for my medications?

There is a standard, fixed charge for medicines that are available on prescription. This applies to each medicine on a prescription form, so if you have two different medicines on one prescription, this counts as two charges. The charge is currently £6.40 per medicine, but this increases regularly.

Some people are entitled to help with paying for prescription charges, or even to receive their medicines free of charge. You will need to fill in a form to claim this help. Ask your doctor or the receptionist for details about prescription charges if you are:

• over 60 years old
• unemployed
• on a low income
• a child or still in full-time education
• a pregnant woman or a new mother
• suffering from a long-term medical condition

How do I fill in the form?

You need to fill in your address and how much money you are paying on the back of the form. You also have to sign the form.

If your home address is different from the address printed on the front of the form, then fill in your correct address in the space on the back of the form. If your address is correct, ignore this section.

You will need to fill in the amount you are paying for your medicines. The pharmacist will advise you what to put here.

If you do not have to pay anything for your medicines, the pharmacist will help you to indicate this on the form.

When you have completed the form, you will need to sign it. Someone else can fill in the form for you, although they will need to sign it for you.

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