We have a dispensary at St Mary’s Surgery and are able to dispense medications for any eligible patients.
Under NHS regulations, patients are eligible if they live more than one mile from the surgery dispensary. In practice, we dispense medications to people living in the surrounding villages.
Patients living in the city of Ely may collect their medication from a number of local pharmacies. Patients also have the opportunity to register for electronic prescribing when choosing a preferred pharmacy.
All patients new to the surgery should make sure they have at least one month’s supply of regular medication from their current practice before registering with us.
Further changes for patients
We would like to thank patients for their patience as we continue to develop the practice and complete the building works.
Our dispensing team are still here to help you at 37 St Mary’s Street to deal with face-to-face, telephone and online queries.
If you have any queries about your medication, please contact our dispensary team as usual and they will be able to support you. Telephone the surgery on 01353 663434 and select option 3 from the menu.
Have your medication delivered to your home
Our dispensary team provides FREE home deliveries of routine prescriptions to eligible patients living in local villages as well as medication drop offs at some local shops. Please note this service does not cover urgent prescriptions. You must still collect those from dispensary.
Current locations and delivery days:
- Wednesday mornings – Barway, Chettisham, Coveney, Prickwillow. Queen Adelaide, Stuntney, Wardy Hill, Wayhead, and Witcham
- Wednesday afternoons – Little Thetford, followed by Stretham shop drop off and then Stretham home deliveries
- Thursday – Little Downham home deliveries, followed by drop off at ALS Autos, and Pymoor
- Friday – Witchford and Wentworth.
How home deliveries work
Please contact our dispensary team if you wish to receive home deliveries.
Once registered, you may order your prescriptions online using SystmOnline, the NHS App or by posting your prescription through the door as usual. Please DO NOT order any medication through askmyGP as this will not be actioned.
You can post your repeat prescriptions through the red post box in the portacabin or through the post box at no 37 St Mary’s Street, where dispensary is based. (Just across the road from the old surgery building.)
You must order your medication by 6.30pm the Friday BEFORE delivery is due.
You will be asked to confirm if you are exempt from paying for your medication and, if so, to provide your certificate number.
If you normally pay for your prescriptions, you must either pay the correct amount of cash on receipt of the medication delivered or contact the dispensary team and pay before your prescription is delivered. The current cost for each item of medication is £9.35.
You will be asked to confirm if you will be available to receive your prescriptions on delivery day. Please note we are unable to post medication into a house where we know children or pets may be able to open the packaging. And controlled drugs, such as morphine MUST always be signed for.
Free NHS prescriptions and medical exemptions
People with certain medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions if they have a valid medical exemption certificate.
If you’re entitled to a certificate because of your medical condition, your doctor will give you an application form. You should expect to receive your certificate within 10 working days of us receiving your application.
Find out more about prescription charges.
Find out who is entitled to a medical exemption certificate.
Find out more about who is entitled to free prescriptions.
Please note: St Mary’s Surgery aims to ensure that the NHS has value for money from the medication that patients take. One way it does this is by avoiding different brands and prescribing by the chemical name (generic prescribing). Brands vary enormously in price whilst the drug is exactly the same. We are trying to ensure we increase our generic prescribing.
Sharps boxes and unwanted medication
Currently St Mary’s dispensary is only taking back sharps boxes if the patient is their dispensing patient. The dispensary is not taking back unwanted medication at the moment.
St Mary’s Pharmacy (Advanced Pharmacy) at 64 St Mary’s Street are taking back both sharps boxes and unwanted medication.
Updated: 28.7.22