We are a dispensing practice to all patients who do not live within 1 mile of a chemist. Our Dispensary is based at The North Thoresby Practice, and around half of our patients collect their medication from us at the practice.

This can be regular monthly medication, on-off prescriptions from the GP (also known as Acute medication) and we also cater for patients who benefit to weekly blister packs for their medication.

We offer many dispensary options for both dispensing and non-dispensing patients. 

Patients who live more than 1 mile from their nearest pharmacy are eligible to have their medication dispensed at the practice. These are known as dispensing patients.

Other patients must take their prescriptions to a pharmacy.

  • Benefits of being a dispensing patient include:
  • Prompt transfer service of prescriptions from GP to dispensary.
  • Prompt communications between the dispensary and GP regarding medication changes.
  • Automatic renewal of regular prescriptions via the managed prescription service.
  • Continuity of management of medication.
  • Access to dispensary services like DMR (Dispensary Managed Repeats). 

Patients who do not qualify under the mileage rule may apply to NHS England under the serious difficulty rule. Patients with serious difficulty in using the local pharmacy because of distance or inadequate means of communication may apply to remain on their doctor’s dispensing list but there are very strict conditions to be met in this regard.

If you believe that the serious difficulty rule might apply to you please discuss your situation with the local pharmacy in the first instance as they may be able to help.

This is available only for patients who don’t get their medication through the Practice Dispensary and use a Pharmacy.

If you are a non-dispensing patients and uses the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from electronic repeat dispensing. This means you won't have to re-order or collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP practice every time you need more medicine, you simply collect your regular medication from your usual pharmacy every month.

eRD allows the prescriber to authorise and issue a batch of repeatable prescriptions for up to 12 months with just one digital signature.

To enable electronic dispensing, you need to have a nominated pharmacy and we will set this with you. Your regular medication will then be available at that pharmacy.

When your pharmacy supplies your last electronic repeat prescription, they should inform you. You will then have to contact your GP practice to ask for another set of electronic repeat prescriptions. You may need to be seen for a review before another batch of electronic repeat dispensing prescription is authorised.

If you order your own prescriptions, we accept orders that are received by paper requests. This can be done by using the repeat slip you receive when you collect your medication each month, or it can be done by ensuring that your full name, date of birth, address and items you require are written on a sheet of paper.

All requests that are made via paper request need to be put into the letter box on the front door at North Thoresby or one of the red boxes at Holton-le-Clay that are located on the front and back gate.

Alternatively, you can order your medication in person at the dispensary or online using the online services provided by the Practice or via NHS app. Please contact reception for more information.

If your medication is due to be reviewed the system will not let you tick the items you need to order, but you can still order them by writing your request on  the ‘custom request’ box on SystmOnline or on the ‘Dr Notes’ box on the NHS App.

 Dispensary Managed Repeats (DMR) is an easy way to ensure that you get your medication each month. You don’t need to worry about ordering each month, or worrying that you will run out.

The DMR system has been set up and is now used by over half of our dispensing patients. Once set up, you collect your medication each month from the practice, and we will give you a date for when your next collection will be, all you need to do it let the team know if there is anything you don’t require for next month.

It is simple, easy to manage and takes the worry of ordering off the patients. If this is something you are interested in, please speak with a member of the dispensary staff who will be glad to help provide all the information about the service.

As a surgery, some patient benefit from medication that is in weekly blister packs.

These packs are available for dispensing patients whom the GP has agreed would benefit from this service.

If you believe you would benefit from this service, please contact the surgery to speak with a GP regarding your medication.