Indeed, I already have a repeat prescription process set up, and in fact the doctor said that if I wanted something different I should just write the details on the repeat slip before dropping it in to the surgery; so after the first occasion I probably won't need to waste much of her valuable time. Still seems silly that it has to be done at all, though.

Boots told me that once I got a pre-payment certificate (which my sister insists on calling a "prescription season ticket" :-) they could retrospectively refund me on the prescriptions I've picked up so far, which struck me as well above the call of duty!