FOR years there has been just one way to get a prescription - you go to the surgery, wait to see the doctor, come out with a piece of paper, head to the pharmacy and wait again while they prepare your medicine. It's a long-winded business that most of us - particularly the elderly and infirm, or busy parents - could do without. So you will be glad to hear that recent developments are now making the whole matter much easier and less time-consuming, especially for those with repeat prescriptions. Here Boots tell us how it can be done in three easy options

Prescription collection service. If you have a repeat prescription you can cut out the visit to your GP to collect it. Main store Boots will collect it from your surgery (if it is part of the participating scheme) and prepare it for you. Just pick it up.

Postal prescription collection service. Not dissimilar to option one but with a postal element. This service is aimed particularly at people whose surgeries are too far away from their local Boots for staff to collect prescriptions in person. It works by using pre-addressed Freepost envelopes in which your GP can post your repeat prescription to a nominated Boots pharmacy every time you need to renew it. You then collect it when it is convenient.

Boots pharmacy direct. Using Boots on-line service means you don't have to collect your medicines - Boots will deliver them. Find full details at www.boots.com/pharmacydirect

Check with your local Boots store for further details and availability of services mentioned.