At Berkeley Place Surgery, we are sometimes contacted by patients who are planning to live, work, or travel overseas for a longer period. We understand how important it is to make sure you have a continuous supply of your regular medication while you are outside the UK. We are happy to consider requests to prescribe up to three months’ supply of your usual medication to cover time away in these circumstances.
However if you are going to be abroad for longer than three months, please be aware our practice policy follows British Medical Association guidance on prescribing in General Practice. This states that the NHS do not accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for periods of more than three months. As prescribers, our role is to make sure you have enough medication to reach your destination and allow you sufficient time to find alternative arrangements. If you are planning on staying overseas for longer than three months, you will need to register with a local doctor in the country you are visiting so you can continue your medication. Please be aware that you may need to pay for this, and you should check in advance whether your medication is available in that country. It is your responsibility to arrange ongoing care and medication while you are abroad.
Please also note that NHS prescriptions cannot be collected by friends or family on your behalf while you are overseas, even if you still have a home in the UK or pay UK taxes.
Finally, it is your responsibility to make sure any medication you take into another country complies with local laws. You can find more information on the NHS and UK government websites.