Picking up repeat prescriptions

[Tracy webb]

Hi,hoping to become continuous cruisers in 2026

Trying to figure out how we are going to pick up repeat prescriptions in various places.

[mrsmelly]

32 minutes ago, Tracy webb said:

Hi,hoping to become continuous cruisers in 2026

Trying to figure out how we are going to pick up repeat prescriptions in various places.

It was never a problem for me. You can pick up at any pharmacy. I picked up at many different ones. You just tell where you are going to be and it's sorted. I don't recall who I told but it was dead easy, just ask your docs or pharmacy and they will advise it really is simple. 

Edited November 4 by mrsmelly

[Tracy webb]

Thankyou for reply.If i have not got an address to register the doctors to,that would mean I couldnt get prescriptions signed off there wouldnt it?

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Assuming you can get registered at a GP, then you can change your nominated pharmacy as often as you need on the NHS app. The biggest issue is estimating where you are going to be three to four days ahead to pick a pharmacy not too far away. 

[mrsmelly]

2 minutes ago, Tracy webb said:

Thankyou for reply.If i have not got an address to register the doctors to,that would mean I couldnt get prescriptions signed off there wouldnt it?

You fo not need an address to access the NHS. However it's usually best to use one. Over the years we used several rellies addresses and a pub etc etc. 

1 minute ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Assuming you can get registered at a GP, then you can change your nominated pharmacy as often as you need on the NHS app. The biggest issue is estimating where you are going to be three to four days ahead to pick a pharmacy not too far away. 

Ahhh an App, new fangled stuff. 

[frahkn]

1 minute ago, Tracy webb said:

Thankyou for reply.If i have not got an address to register the doctors to,that would mean I couldnt get prescriptions signed off there wouldnt it?

I spend 6 months every year out on the boat. My repeat prescriptions are issued by my "home" doctor, who has no clue where I am living from week to week (or indeed, that I own a boat). As mrsmelly says, I collect them from any pharmacy.

[Tracy webb]

Thanks so much for your help,just concerned that if i dont have a home address the doctors surgery would refuse the prescriptions,maybe meed to register to my sons property 

[mrsmelly]

I would also suggest you just remain with your current GP surgery and carry on regardless. 

[Tracy webb]

Thanks

[mrsmelly]

4 minutes ago, Tracy webb said:

Thanks

You will be fine. You will find that if you try to fully comply and be totally legit it's simply not possible, you have to be economical with the truth. Try buying a TV licence without a post code for instance. 

22 minutes ago, Tracy webb said:

Thanks so much for your help,just concerned that if i dont have a home address the doctors surgery would refuse the prescriptions,maybe meed to register to my sons property 

Perfect

[Mike Tee]

1 hour ago, Tracy webb said:

Thanks so much for your help,just concerned that if i dont have a home address the doctors surgery would refuse the prescriptions,maybe meed to register to my sons property 

If you give your doctor your sons address, unless he also lives in the docs catchment area you will be told to register with your sons doctor.

[Wanderer Vagabond]

2 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

If you give your doctor your sons address, unless he also lives in the docs catchment area you will be told to register with your sons doctor.

Does that make much difference these days with the proliferation of multi-doctor practices? I'm registered with a local practice and can't for the life of me remember who 'my' doctor is, I just see whoever is available (and for the last two visits it has been a 'Physician Assistant' anyway, can't remember the last time I saw an actual doctor).

 

As others have mentioned, having your prescription 'sent' to another pharmacy is the easiest thing in the world to do, my OH does it pretty much every time she gets her repeat prescription.

[Ex Brummie]

5 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Assuming you can get registered at a GP, then you can change your nominated pharmacy as often as you need on the NHS app. The biggest issue is estimating where you are going to be three to four days ahead to pick a pharmacy not too far away. 

Or alternatively, moor up on your 2 day mooring, then order your repeat after finding a pharmacy, and you have a ready made excuse to overstay.😁

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

30 minutes ago, Ex Brummie said:

Or alternatively, moor up on your 2 day mooring, then order your repeat after finding a pharmacy, and you have a ready made excuse to overstay.😁

mind it’s winter now so back to normality and it’s 14 days again (on most moorings) 🍻 

[Mike Tee]

3 hours ago, Wanderer Vagabond said:

Does that make much difference these days with the proliferation of multi-doctor practices? I'm registered with a local practice and can't for the life of me remember who 'my' doctor is, I just see whoever is available (and for the last two visits it has been a 'Physician Assistant' anyway, can't remember the last time I saw an actual doctor).

 

As others have mentioned, having your prescription 'sent' to another pharmacy is the easiest thing in the world to do, my OH does it pretty much every time she gets her repeat prescription.

I think it still applies - each surgery has a catchment area and if you don't 'live' in it (ie relatives address) they are not inclined to keep you on their books. Pharmacy on the other hand can be nominated by you, as mentioned previously. 

[Stroudwater1]

You can’t though get prescriptions from a GP in England sent electronically to pharmacies in Wales , so bear that in mind if heading Llangollen way. Same for GPs in Scotland or Wales who can’t send electronically to pharmacies in England. 

[StevieN]

Ask your GP to put your prescriptions "on the spine."

That way you do not have to specify a pharmacy, you just go into anyone wherever you are in England and tell them you have a prescription on the spine. They'll ask for your NHS number and check the spine. 

Usually get it same day - longer if they don't have an item in stock but no more that 24hrs.

[Mike Tee]

^^^^ Never heard of that - thanks, good to know

[Jen-in-Wellies]

19 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

You can’t though get prescriptions from a GP in England sent electronically to pharmacies in Wales , so bear that in mind if heading Llangollen way. Same for GPs in Scotland or Wales who can’t send electronically to pharmacies in England. 

I ran in to exactly this a couple of months ago. Fortunately, there is a pharmacy that can take electronic prescriptions in Ellesmere, just over the border in Englandshire. 

[mrsmelly]

Just now, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I ran in to exactly this a couple of months ago. Fortunately, there is a pharmacy that can take electronic prescriptions in Ellesmere, just over the border in Englandshire. 

Madness isn't it. When we moved over to Wales we kept our same NHS numbers but the computer system here could not access our English health records. Luckily my consultant knew that would be the case and printed mine off to bring here. 

[alias]

4 hours ago, Wanderer Vagabond said:

Does that make much difference these days with the proliferation of multi-doctor practices?

 

Each multi-doctor practice is a separate business, with each receiving funding from the NHS based on the number of patients registered with them. Like you I just see whoever in the practice (spread across two surgeries) is available, but I don't think the Practice would wear me changing my registered address to an area outside one that they can serve.

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

10 hours ago, Tracy webb said:

Thanks so much for your help,just concerned that if i dont have a home address the doctors surgery would refuse the prescriptions,maybe meed to register to my sons property 

If you have a repeat prescription then you don't need to contact a doctor to sign it every 2 months.

[Ewan123]

10 hours ago, Tracy webb said:

Thanks so much for your help,just concerned that if i dont have a home address the doctors surgery would refuse the prescriptions,maybe meed to register to my sons property 

It does depend on the GP. We've recently used two GPs on the Peak Forest canal that have been easy - we just said we're on a boat with no address but are in the area for a while, they said great you can just use the surgery address as your own for registering. That's how it should be done according to NHS guidelines. Some GPs and/or their receptionists are less welcoming. 

[Tracy webb]

Thanks so much everyone,really helpful

[Tracy webb]

Hi again,now i know there are many helpful prople on here...another question from some newbies.

Does anyone know of any marinas in the stratford upon avon area ,with trades and facilities to fit a sailaway ,also with maybe caravan site / reasonably priced accomodation that allows dogs nearby.

Thanks tracy and jonathan