Prescriptions

If you are receiving regular treatment you can obtain your repeat prescription without seeing the doctor. You may, however, be asked to see the doctor on occasion to ensure everything is as it should be.

To re-order a drug, please use one of the online application services such as Patient Access, the NHS App or MyGP. If you do not have an online account yet, please contact the practice and we will issue you with a PIN and ID number to be able to access the services.

Alternatively, you can email your prescription request to the practice at: [email protected]. or you can order it via online services by going to request.mygp.com/bri

Prescriptions over the telephone will no longer be accepted. 

Please allow a minimum of three working days for your request to be processed and authorised by a doctor. Please note that during busy periods prescriptions can take longer to process. In exceptional cases where there is a query about the request this may take a little longer. 

We now use Electronic Prescription Services to send prescriptions direct to pharmacies so please check with your preferred chemist that you are signed up with them. If you have access to an online account, you can track the progress of your prescription so that you know when it is available at the pharmacy to collect.

Please remember to order in advance of public holidays, when the surgery and most chemists will be closed.

Use of Benzodiazepines (and related medications) for flying

Diazepam in the UK is a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug. The following short guide outlines the issues surrounding its use with regards to flying and why the surgery no longer prescribes such medications for this purpose.

People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. There are a number of very good reasons why prescribing this drug is not recommended.

According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (British National Formulary) diazepam is contraindicated (not allowed) for treating phobias (fears). It also states that “the use of benzodiazepines to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate.” Your doctor would be taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.

Although plane emergencies are a rare occurrence there are concerns about reduced awareness and reaction times for patients taking Diazepam which could pose a significant risk to themselves and others due to not being able to react in a manner which could save their life in the event of an emergency on board necessitating evacuation.

 The use of such sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at an increased risk of developing a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or even the lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than 4 hours, the amount of time which has been shown to increase the risk of developing DVT whether in an aeroplane or elsewhere.

Whilst most people find Diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally which can pose a risk on the plane. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law. A similar effect can be seen with alcohol, which has led to people being removed from flights.

Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police. The passenger may also need to use a different strategy for the homeward bound journey and/or other legs of the journey

It is important to declare all medical conditions and medications you take to your travel insurer. If not, there is a risk of nullifying any insurance policy you may have.

Given the above we will no longer be providing Diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety and instead suggest the below aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.

Flight anxiety does not come under the remit of General Medical Services as defined in the GP contract and so we are not obliged to prescribe for this.  Patients who still wish to take benzodiazepines for flight anxiety are advised to consult with a private GP.

For further information visit: https://thefearofflying.com/programs/fly-and-be-calm/ https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/ https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence https://www.flyingwithoutfear.com/

Please can you help us help you by using any of the following apps to order your repeat prescriptions the MyGP , NHS and Patient Access.  

Thank you

Holland House Surgery