FOUR GP practices in Knutsford, Holmes Chapel and Chelford are no longer accepting repeat prescription requests from pharmacies for most patients.

The move is an attempt by NHS Eastern Cheshire clinical commissioning group (CCG), which plans and buys healthcare in the area, to encourage patients to take control of their own prescriptions in order to save money.

It is hoped that medicines waste will be reduced if more patients order their own repeat prescriptions, with pharmacies not always aware of changes to medicine or a patient’s stock levels under the existing system.

Dr Mark Dickinson, head of prescribing and medicines optimisation at the CCG, said: “We believe that patients are best placed to know of any changes that have been made to their medicines by their doctor, and what medicines they have used in the past month.

“We expect that patients taking control of the medicines they order will improve safety and also reduce medicines waste at a time of significant financial pressure for the NHS.”

Patients at Annandale Medical Centre, Manchester Road Medical Centre, The Health Centre in Holmes Chapel, and Chelford Surgery are affected.