Prescriptions and Fit Notes

Ordering repeat prescriptions

PRESCRIPTIONS 

WHEREVER POSSIBLE PLEASE REQUEST YOUR PRESCRIPTION ONLINE VIA THE NHS OR TOHER APP, BY POST,  SPEAK TO YOUR COMMUNITY PHARMACIST WHO CAN REQUEST ITEMS ON YOUR BEHALF. 

WE CANNOT TAKE REQUESTS OVER THE TELEPHONE TO AVOID MISHEARING AND MAKING ERRORS.

Please allow TWO FULL WORKING DAYS for your prescription to be processed.  Please also remember to take weekends and Bank Holidays into account.

HOSPITAL PRESCRIPTIONS

NHS Prescriptions issued by hospitals are ONLY VALID in the hospital pharmacy. Requests for private prescriptions or NHS hospital prescriptions need to be individually assessed by the responsible doctor. This may result in a delay and could also lead to issuing of an alternative medication.

Please be aware that the medical and legal responsibility for these medications lies with the prescribing GP and not the specialist and that further checks may be requested by your GP.  Medication recommended by a specialist will need to conform to local NHS guidelines for the practice to take on this responsibility therefore sometimes requests of this nature may need to be declined.

FIT NOTES 

You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work – ’Fit Note’

The ‘fit note’ was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)