12-month prescriptions
A 12-month prescription will not be clinically appropriate for everyone. Your safety is always our first priority.
Patients who wish to be considered for a 12-month prescription must book a dedicated appointment with their registered GP or Nurse Practitioner (NP) specifically to discuss this request. This appointment is for this discussion only. If you would like to discuss other health concerns, please ensure you book a longer or separate appointment.
During this appointment, your GP or NP will explain what is required for a longer prescription and assess whether it is suitable for you. This is a clinical decision made on a case-by-case basis and is not a blanket approval for all patients. An appointment fee applies regardless of whether you are approved for a 12-month prescription or not.
Eligible patients will be required to attend a yearly in-person review of their condition and medications with their prescriber, including an initial appointment to assess eligibility.
Pharmacies can continue to dispense a maximum of three months’ supply at a time (or six months for oral contraceptives), as they do currently. Medication repeats must be collected from the same pharmacy. There is no change to the duration of supply for controlled drugs.
Before issuing a 12-month prescription, your practitioner must be confident that:
your condition is well controlled
you are up to date with any required blood tests or monitoring
you are taking the medication as prescribed, with no dose changes anticipated over the next year
If these criteria are met, a 12-month prescription may be suitable.
If not, your GP or NP may issue a shorter prescription so your condition and medications can be reviewed sooner, ensuring they remain safe and appropriate for you over time.
Ineligible medications
The following medications are not eligible for 12-month prescriptions:
Opioids (e.g. Codeine, Tramadol, Oxycodone, Morphine, Fentanyl)
Stimulants (e.g. Methylphenidate, Dexamfetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
Other controlled medicines (e.g. benzodiazepines such as Clonazepam, Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Temazepam)
Medications that are only taken "as needed" - i.e. not prescribed to be taken on a regular schedule
Medications that require monitoring within 12 months
Medications where your dose has been changed within the past 6 months
Medications for a condition where the status of your condition has changed within the past 6 months
Even if your medication is not included in the above, your practitioner may still determine that a 12-month prescription is not appropriate.
FAQs
Q. Why can't my GP or Nurse Practitioner decide if I'm eligible for a 12-month prescription by just looking at my medical notes?
A. There are a number of reasons, including:
Fully assessing your eligibility for a 12-month prescription takes time.
Your practitioner may need to take up-to-date measurements such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, etc., as part of their assessment.
Your practitioner will need to discuss your health history, treatment, and monitoring plans with you.
Q. Can I get all my medications prescribed for 12 months?
A. That will depend on your medications and your medical history. Your practitioner may be able to prescribe all of your medications for 12 months, or only some of them, or none of them.
Q. What if I think I should be eligible for a 12-month prescription, but my practitioner declines to provide one?
A. Ultimately, the decision to provide a 12-month prescription or not lies with the prescribing practitioner. They will not provide a 12-month prescription to you if your medication/s or health condition/s don't meet the criteria or if they feel it is not clinically safe or appropriate to do so.
Q. If my usual practitioner is away on leave, can a locum assess my eligibility for a 12-month prescription for me?
A. No. To be assessed for your eligibility for a 12-month prescription you will need to see the practitioner you are registered with. If you're unsure who this is, please contact reception and they'll be able to let you know.
More questions? Get in touch with us!
You can call reception on 04 472 4266 or message the Accounts and Admin inbox on our patient portal Well if you have any more general questions about the 12-month prescription process.
If your question is about your eligibility, only your usual practitioner will be able to answer it and you will need to book an appointment.
