Can gp receptionists issue proscriptions

[Sevendaysaweek]

I’ve just called up free forgetting to request my medication. I’ve completely run out and she was very helpful and sent it the pharmacy. She hadn’t spoken to a doctor. Is this usual?

She will have had it signed by the doctor. They can’t write prescriptions themselves

(But nice to see a thread about receptionists being helpful for a change!)

She didn’t leave the phone call though.

Dr would have signed/authorised it. Its just an over the phone refill thought it was normal.

Doctor could have happened to be next to her at the time

My drs has instant messaging. They could have asked the dr while you were on the call.

Basically it was your repeat prescription (I think)

It will be a repeat prescription which will be held electronically then printed out and signed by the doctor. The pharmacist wont accept an unsigned prescription and will double check your meds. Ours do this if you leave a request form in the box.

Receptionists can't issue scripts, she will have requested the medication (only repeats) and it will then be signed off electronically by the GP and go to the pharmacy.

In my surgery we didn't take requests over the phone as simply too many patients so people had to request via email/paper request.

My doctor's has instant messaging, they would have sent the request whilst you were on the phone and they must have picked it up straight away.

Unless the receptionist is also a doctor or nurse practitioner, of course she can't prescribe medicine to you.

She could, however, act on the instruction of a qualified person 'next time Sevendaysaweek asks for her meds send this to the pharmacy' however this is set up at your practice.

They will have added it to the system, the gp will ok it before it's issued

I'm a receptionist if it's on repeat we can issue it but the doctor signs it either electronically or we print the script and they sign it. If it's not on repeat we send a message to ask for what the patient is asking for and they either issue, say no, or they want to review ect.

Yes, usual for repeat medications. The receptionist would process the repeat and send it to the doctor to approve and sign off. It would then go to the pharmacy via electronic means.