To keep prescribing safe and effective, it is really important that medication use is reviewed regularly. This ensures your medicines are still appropriate and working well for you and allows us to adjust things when your health changes.

In 2026 the rules around prescribing durations are changing and some patients may be eligible for prescriptions for longer than 3 months. This will be a highly individual decision made for each patient by their own doctor and will only be suitable for select patients who are stable and have straightforward health needs.

Below is a summary of the Ranolf Medical Centre Prescribing Policies that guide our prescribing.

How to request a repeat prescription

• Repeat prescriptions can be requested through the patient portal or by contacting reception.
• Prescriptions must be paid for in advance.

Timeframes and fees:

• Routine: ready within 3 working days
   (This allows time for safe review, usually by your own GP.)
• Urgent: ready by the next working day (extra $10 fee)
• Same day: not routinely available and only offered in exceptional circumstances

How often do I need a review?

This is different for everyone and your medical team will help you make a plan that is safe and appropriate for you.

• Some medicines (such as strong pain relief, sleeping tablets, ADHD medicines, and some mental health medicines) are controlled by law and will continue to need monthly prescriptions. There is more detail on this in our Controlled Drug Policy.

• Many patients will continue to need 3 monthly prescriptions as they have always done, especially if:
  • You take 3 or more medicines
  • Your condition is not fully controlled
  • Your treatment has recently changed
  • You are older or have complex health needs
  • You are on a controlled drug which legally requires 3 monthly scripts

• If you would like longer prescriptions (more than 3 months) and think you might be suitable for this:
  • You will need a safe prescribing review with a clinician
  • This is best done with your own GP- please book an appointment for this
  • Together, an appropriate care plan will be agreed that is right for you.

• In general, all patients on regular medications require at least one appointment to review these medications per year, often referred to as an annual review.

Booking regular reviews

• Please book routine reviews 5–6 weeks ahead, as non-urgent appointments can fill up quickly.
• Seeing the same GP or care team helps ensure safe and consistent care.
• If you are not able to book an appointment before your review is due, a short prescription (eg 4 weeks) may be provided to tide you over until you are seen. Standard fees apply.

Repeat Prescriptions: Medicines that usually require an appointment

These medicines are often requested as repeat medications but are not usually prescribed as repeats without a consultation:

• Antibiotics – need review (may sometimes be reviewed by phone or video consult)
• Steroids (e.g. prednisone) – same rules as antibiotics
• Strong painkillers – strong pain medicines are only repeated if clearly documented as a long-term treatment for a specific condition.
• Efudix or Aldara/imiquimod – repeat use requires review of the specific skin lesion