Dispensing Medicines

Pharmacies are required to supply medicines which have been ordered/prescribed on NHS prescriptions. Your pharmacist will also provide advice about taking your medicines safely and any possible side effects or interactions that you may be experiencing. Pharmacies are required to maintain a confidential record of all medicines dispensed on your patient medication record. The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is also being implemented as part of the dispensing service.

Dispensing Appliances

Pharmacies can fulfil prescriptions for appliances such as; dressings, stoma appliances, continence products, lymphoedema items and other medical devices. If a pharmacy is unable to obtain the item, they will ensure that you are signposted to a place that can supply the items on your prescription

Self Care Support

Whether you have a long term illness or a minor ailment your local pharmacy can give you the right advice to help you help yourself and your family. Pharmacies provide support for self-care to enhance access and choice for people who wish to care for themselves or their families. Pharmacists are well-trained clinicians with expertise in minor ailments and their treatment.

Most pharmacies have a consultation room where you can speak in private to a member of the pharmacy team.

Some common conditions that people seek GP appointments for will get better within a short time or can be treated with over-the-counter medicines from a pharmacy. For a wide range of minor ailments, your local pharmacist should be your first point-of-call.

For more information about self care and suggested contents for a home first aid kit see the self care page of this website by clicking here.

Safe Disposal: Unwanted Medicine

Pharmacies are obliged to take back your unwanted medicines dispensed from their pharmacy. Each pharmacy has their own standard operating procedure for the safe disposal of medicines. If you have controlled drugs, these can also be accepted by your pharmacy.

In Lincolnshire clinical waste such as sharps (needles and syringes) are usually disposed of via the district councils so check your district council website for the procedure in your area.

Returning your unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy reduces the risk of accidental poisoning in the home and will reduce the volume of stored medicines. By taking your unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy you are ensuring that the public are protected from exposure to harmful substances and will also reduce any damage to the environment which could be caused by inappropriate disposal of medicines.

Repeat Dispensing

Repeat Dispensing is where your GP gives you a supply of special prescriptions which cover a longer period for example you might get a set of forms to cover 3, 6 or 12 months. Pharmacies can manage and dispense your repeatable NHS prescriptions. This is a more convenient way of obtaining your regular prescribed medicines and appliances for a period of time agreed by your prescriber. This will minimise any wastage by reducing the number of medicines and appliances dispensed which you do not need. Your pharmacist will have regular check ups with you to ensure that you are not experiencing any unwanted side effects and to make sure that your dose has not altered since you last saw your GP. If you think that you may benefit from repeat dispensing speak to your GP or pharmacist.

For more information about Electronic Prescription Services click here

Healthy Lifestyles

Want to change your life to become healthier? You can get healthy living advice and public health messages from your local pharmacy.

Each year pharmacies take part in many public health campaigns, via displaying posters and distribution of free leaflets.

Just ask a member of staff if you would like any healthy living advice, such as weight management, nutrition, quit smoking, alcohol intake and much more.

Signposting to other services

If your local pharmacy cannot provide you with the advice or service that you require, they will be able to signpost you to other sources of care and support in the area.

For example this could be to another NHS service such as dental, podiatry, dietician, GP etc or to a support group such as Carers Hub, Age UK, Diabetes UK etc

Discharge Medicines Service

If you have been in hospital and are on regular medication, you may find that when you leave, your medication may have been changed by the hospital. The Discharge Medicine Service (DMS) is there to help you get the best our of your new medicines. Medicines are a huge part of the annual costs of running the NHS and it’s important that patients use their medicines correctly to get the maximum benefit.

When you are discharged from hospital a message will go to your regular pharmacy telling them about the changes to your medication. The pharmacy can then update their records promptly and help ensure that you get the correct medication in future. If there are any queries  on what you should be taking they may ask your permission to speak to your doctor. When your prescription arrives they will check you are clear what all your medicines are for, and if anything is new, check whether you need any extra help and advice.

It is hoped that in Lincolnshire this service will roll out from hospitals during 20256/27.