Pharmacies
Pharmacies are places you can go to to buy medication, get your prescriptions and general medical advice.
How do I find my nearest pharmacy?
Go to the NHS website to search for your local pharmacies.
How do I get a prescription?
Some medications can only be purchased with a prescription from a GP or hospital. If you think you may need antibiotics or any other medication that requires a prescription, you need to make an appointment with your GP to get a prescription.
The GP will then give you a prescription you can take to a pharmacy to get your medication. Some prescriptions are free, but most have a flat rate charge of £9.35.
Can I take my prescription to any pharmacy?
If your GP gives you a prescription, you can take this to any local pharmacy. You may not be able to take this prescription to a hospital pharmacy.
If a hospital gives you a prescription, this prescription often is only valid at that hospital.
Can I get help paying for prescriptions?
Yes. You can apply for a HC2 certificate, which helps you wish your healthcare costs. Please click here to make an application and you may be entitled to free prescriptions.
Can I pay for my prescriptions monthly?
If you need multiple medications each month, you may wish to pay upfront for a prescription pre-payment certificate. This often works out cheaper if you need multiple prescriptions each month.
You can either pay upfront for 3 months (£30.25) or for a year (£108.10).
How do I get a prescription and repeat prescription?
You can get a prescription from your GP Practice. Most of the time, you will need to have an appointment to be prescribed a new medication. Phone up your GP to ask them for help on how to get the medication you need.
To request a repeat prescription will need to request this at your GP Practice. Every GP Practice does this differently. You may need to:
- Phone up the GP
- Write a letter to the GP
- Send them an email
- Submit a request via an app
What other services do pharmacies offer?
Many of Newham’s pharmacies offer:
- Sexual health advice
- Free condoms
- Free blood pressure checks for certain people
- Stop smoking advice
- General medical advice and guidance
- Flu, COVID-19 and travel vaccinations
- Free Vitamin D and Healthy Start Vitamins
- Safely getting rid of old medication
Other pharmacies may also offer additional services, like sexual health screenings.
To find out what your local pharmacy offers, visit the NHS website