Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation has taken place with (a) patients and (b) patient organisations on GP surgeries ceasing to take repeat prescription orders over the telephone from 1 September 2020; and what impact assessment has been undertaken to ensure that people without access to online services are still able to receive their prescription medication after that date.

We are informed by NHS England and NHS Improvement that the National Health Service nationally has not cancelled any facility for repeat prescriptions. While ordering online has proven hugely popular because of the convenience and ease, we know this will not be possible for everyone. National guidance is clear that every local practice must put in place a system for repeat prescriptions, which can include online and phone orders, to meet the needs of their own patients.