As of the 7th of June 2022, the practice will be implementing a new protocol for how we deal with urgent prescription requests.

Due to an increasing number of requests for repeat prescriptions to be issued urgently i.e. on the same day or less than 48 hours, we have had to review how we handle these requests in order to provide a safe and consistent service to all our patients.

Requests for prescriptions outside the normal prescription protocol impacts significantly on both doctor and administration staff time, meaning there is less availability to a doctor for other patients and a higher risk of a prescribing error occurring.

We require 3 full working days for prescriptions. Please try to order your medications in good time in case of unexpected delays.

Many medications can be safely missed for a few days. We will not issue urgent prescriptions for items that can be bought over the counter, or for non-essential medication, and you may be informed that your medication will be processed following the normal repeat prescription process. If your medication cannot be missed the item requested will be issued.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate that you may find this frustrating. This step has been implemented as a necessity to make sure we can prescribe a safe service to all our patients.

This process will be continually reviewed and updated as need.

Medication Included

Online 

You can order your repeat prescription online by signing up to NHS App or Patient Access (App/Website). You can then view your immunistaions and book a telephone consultation.  

Email

Please click here to download the Repeat Prescription Form. Please complete the form and email it to crosskeys@nhs.net. 

Reception

Please place your repeat prescription request in the box provided at Risborough or Chinnor.

Post

Please post your repeat prescription request to the surgery. (Please enclose a self addressed envelope if you would like your prescription sent back to you).

Cross Keys Practice, 60 High Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0AX

Please allow 3 working days for the surgery to process your request.

Please click here to download the prescription request form

You can read more here.

Unfortunately not all prescriptions are able to be sent electronically. Any private prescriptions, controlled drugs prescriptions etc. must be collected from the surgery.

Treatment can be bought 'over the counter' from pharmacists who are highly qualified and able to give advice.  The medications are often cheaper than the prescription fee which will save money if you usually pay for your prescriptions.  If there is doubt over the diagnosis or you are not responding to over the counter treatment a doctor will always be happy to advise further. These conditions include:

Acne, Athlete's foot, Cold sores, Conjunctivitis, Constipation, Corns, Coughs and colds, Cystitis (in adult females), Dandruff and cradle cap, Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Ear wax, Eczema, Headache, Heartburn, Haemorrhoids (piles), Hay fever (packs of 30 antihistamine tablets now available for less than prescription fee), Insect bites and stings, Morning after pill (emergency contraception), Migraine, Muscular pain, Nicotine replacement therapy, Scabies, Sore throat, Thrush, Travel Sickness, Warts and Verrucae.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.

Tablets for fear of flying: why we don’t prescribe them anymore.

People sometimes ask the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam, or similar drugs like lorazepam, temazepam or clonazepam, for fear of flying or to help sleep during flights.

Prescribing these drugs is not recommended any more for these reasons:

1) Although plane emergencies are rare, taking Diazepam reduces awareness and reaction times for patients so you risk not being able to react to save your life if you have to escape quickly. You may also put other people in danger by getting in their way or making them help you.

2) The use of these drugs can make you sleep in an unnaturally deep sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep so you have a bigger risk of getting a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis - DVT) in the leg or lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can kill. This risk is bigger if your flight is longer than 4 hours.

3) They have short term bad effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration and reaction times, and are addictive if used for a long time, with withdrawal leading to fits, hallucinations, agitation and confusion. They have also become widely used drugs of abuse since they first came on the market. Diazepam in the UK is a controlled drug. The prescribing guidelines doctors have to follow say that that use to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate. They are only to be used short term for a ‘crisis in generalised anxiety’. But if you are having such a crisis you are not likely to be fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.

4) Some people get agitated and aggressive after taking diazepam and similar drugs, and behave in a way that they would not normally, which can pose a risk on the plane. This affects everyone’s safety and could get you into trouble with the law. A similar effect can be seen with alcohol, which has led to people being removed from flights.

5) There is evidence use of these drugs stops the normal adjustment response that would gradually lessen anxiety over time, and may increase anxiety in the long term, especially if used repeatedly.

6) Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.

7) Diazepam stays in your system for some time. If your job or sport needs you to have random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.

8) It is important to tell your travel insurer about your medical conditions and medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try to make a claim.

So we will no longer be providing Diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety. Instead please try one of these aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.

Fly And Be Calm™ is an instant download and comes with a money back guarantee (Guarantee does not apply to app versions).6 MP3 tracks which include instructions, the fear removal tool and two hypnotic tracks. The least expensive option, takes very little time, works on the root cause of your problem. If you are not 100% happy you can get a full refund. https://flyandbecalm.co.uk/

Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

British Airways https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travelassistance/flying-withconfidence

Virgin Atlantic https://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/

Travel Health Pro; Medicines and Travel; Carrying medication abroad and advice regarding falsified medication - https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad