Closure of the Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) Service

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board has taken the decision to close the Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) service from Friday 29 September 2023.

This is because it has been agreed that direct patient services should be delivered by contracted providers who are registered with the Care Quality Commission. NHS Sussex is not a provider organisation and is not registered with the Care Quality Commission for direct patient services.

Repeat prescription ordering services are already provided by individual GP practices, who are contracted to provide these services to their patients. GP surgeries now have better access to pharmacist support and are better placed to provide this service with some developing their own telephone-based services.

As more online repeat prescription services have become available, for example GP websites and the national NHS app, a centralised POD service provided by NHS Sussex is no longer necessary.

The NHS Sussex POD service will no longer be available from 29 September 2023. However, as GP practices transition to their own services, some practices may stop using POD sooner than this date. Patients will be notified when their practice changes its repeat prescription ordering process.

This will depend on each individual practice. In general, repeat prescriptions can be ordered in the following ways:

• On the NHS app or by logging into your NHS account
• Online via your GP practice website
• By post, or in person at your GP practice

Please visit our prescriptions page for further information

No, we don’t take prescription requests over the phone

We understand that not everyone has access to digital platforms, or may choose not to access online services. We would therefore suggest that you speak to your local pharmacy. 

Additionally, every practice has the facility to request a repeat prescription by filling in a form and handing it in to the reception desk or sending it in via post.

You can get help for the NHS app by looking at the help pages on the NHS website

NHS Sussex has produced a helpful step-by-step guide which you can access on the NHS Sussex website

For support on repeat prescriptions in the NHS App, go to the NHS Sussex website

For patients who would like to use digital services but need some additional support there are detailed help pages at NHS App support resources for volunteers. 

If you would prefer additional support to access digital services, some local library services are available.

You can contact us to book a time to speak with our Digital Ambassador.

Brighton & Hove Library connect 1:1 support sessions

Library Connect 1-to-1 Sessions and short sessions with a volunteer who can teach you how to use:

• Computers
• Laptop
• Smartphones
• Tablets
• eBook readers
• The internet

You can book a library connect session by speaking to a member of library staff or calling us on 01273 290 800, or emailing.

Members of the Brighton & Hove library service can also use a computer in the library free for up to one hour a day; this will allow them time to register an NHS account and use this to order a repeat prescription. 

Not every medication prescribed for you will show on the NHS app as a repeat medication. Some medicines are only issued as one-off prescriptions and your GP may want to discuss your usage of them before they issue another prescription.

If your repeat prescription has reached its maximum number of issues, it may not show on the NHS app. If you need to have a regular review, for example of asthma or diabetes, you may not be able to order a repeat prescription until you have your review.

If you cannot see the medicine that you wish to order or you can see it but cannot request a repeat prescription, please contact your GP practice who will be able to review the medication and advise you accordingly.

You can only order repeat prescriptions issued by your GP practice – you will not be able to order medications that have been issued to you by any other NHS provider such as a hospital or community services.

Your GP or clinician will sometimes need to review your request to check that the prescription is still appropriate for you. They may ask you to make an appointment to discuss your request before it is approved.

This is because GP practices need to make sure the medicines they prescribe for you are still appropriate, and they also have a duty to reduce medicines wastage.

Please make sure you allow at least seven working days between requesting your repeat prescription and the date when you need it.

Please make sure you allow at least seven working days between requesting your repeat prescription and the date when you need it.

For general queries and support about the POD service transition, please contact NHS Sussex

If you would like to make a comment or complaint, please go to the NHS Sussex website

Or contact our complaints team in the following ways:

Phone: 0800 433 4545
Via email
Post: NHS Sussex, Wicker House, High Street, Worthing, BN11 1DJ