A PRESCRIPTION collection service designed to save patients and GPs time has been expanded.

Under the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust scheme, patients can order repeat prescriptions in the usual way then turn up at a pharmacy three days later, where their prescription will be ready.

The trust says the service is more convenient for patients and removes unnecessary stages in the repeat prescription cycle, while allowing pharmacists to structure their expanding workload.

The service was piloted in January at Middle Chare and Bridge End surgeries, in Chester-le-Street, and is now available at Chastleton and Gilesgate surgeries, in Durham, and GP practices in Meadowfield, Tow Law, Esh Winning, Langley Park and Sacriston.

Steven Campbell, who works in medicines management for the primary care trust, said only patients registered with those practices could join the scheme but the service would be expanded over the next few months.