NHS Prescriptions
What is an NHS prescription?
An NHS prescription is issued by a prescriber, such as a doctor on behalf of the NHS. Depending on the medicine you need, your prescription can either be a one-off or a repeat.
Repeat or one off prescriptions
A one-off prescription is usually given for a condition where medicine is only needed for a short period of time. Repeat prescriptions are usually for conditions that require regular medication and can be ordered when it is needed, without having to see a GP every time.
Re-ordering your NHS repeat prescription with Boots
If you have a repeat NHS prescription for regular medication, you can order it without the need to book an appointment with your GP when you run low, although, you'll still need to see your GP for your regular, scheduled medicine reviews.
Order online
Ordering online is often the easiest way of managing your repeat prescriptions. You can order for yourself, or on behalf of someone that you care for, with their consent, through Boots Online Prescriptions.
Use your NHS login to select medication from your GP record, or sign up to Boots Online Prescriptions through your Boots.com account to search for the item(s) you need. Medication can be collected from a Boots pharmacy, or delivered for free when ordered through Boots Online Prescriptions.*
Order using your repeat prescription slip
A repeat prescription slip is the tear-off part of your repeat prescription that lists the medicines that you can request a prescription for.
Tick the item(s) on your repeat prescription slip that you want to re-order and hand it in or post it to your GP surgery. If you have signed up to an in-store repeat prescription service, then you can also hand in your repeat slip or post it to your local Boots pharmacy**. Contact your GP or pharmacy if you would like a replacement repeat slip.
Ordering on the phone
Depending on where you live, it may be possible to order your repeat prescriptions by phone.
In some parts of the UK there are services such as the Prescription Medicine Ordering Line (MOL) and Prescription Ordering Direct (POD).
Speak to your GP surgery to see if either of these are available in your area.
You can order repeat NHS prescriptions for yourself or on behalf of someone you care for, with their consent, through Boots Online Prescriptions. Use your NHS Login to select medication from your GP record, or sign up to Boots Online Prescriptions through your boots.com account to search for the item(s) you need.
If you live in England, you have the choice to collect your medication at any Boots pharmacy or have it delivered for free.* Patients in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales can collect it from their local store. We’ll let you know when your prescription is ready, and remind you when it’s time for you to re-order.
You have the choice of which pharmacy you take your prescription to, or where your prescription is sent. If your GP is based in England and you would like your prescription to be sent from your GP electronically, you can nominate a pharmacy to receive your prescriptions via the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
You can also sign up to our free Text Message Service next time you're in store and we’ll send you a text message to let you know when your dispensed medication is ready to collect.
The standard prescription charge in England is currently £9.90 per item on your prescription (sometimes there are exceptions). Chat with a member of your pharmacy team for more information on your prescription charges.
Depending on age or circumstance, some people are entitled to free NHS prescriptions. Use the NHS eligibility checker to find out if you're entitled to free NHS prescriptions.
Depending on the number of items you have over a period of time it may be cost-effective to purchase a Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). The certificate includes all of your NHS prescriptions for a set price. It will be more cost-effective to purchase a PPC if you have more than 3 medication items in 3 months, or 11 medication items in 12 months. The cost of a PPC is £32.05 for 3 months and £114.50 for 12 months, which can be paid upfront or in monthly instalments.
If you get prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it may be more cost-effective to purchase an NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA. The certificate includes all of your NHS-prescribed HRT prescriptions for a set price. It will be more cost-effective to purchase a PPC if you have more than 3 HRT medication items in 12 months. The cost of HRT PPC is £19.80 for 12 months, as a one-off payment.
The National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland and Wales, and Health and Social Care (HSC) Northern Ireland fund their own health and social services. Therefore, there are some differences to the way prescriptions work in these nations.
Please check with your GP surgery or local store on how best to order your repeat prescription, as this will differ depending on where you are. Here are some options for ordering:
Repeat slip
These requests can be handed into your GP surgery or posted directly to your practice. Just tick the item(s) on your repeat slip that you want to re-order. If you have signed up to an in-store repeat prescription service, then you can also hand in your repeat slip or post it to your local Boots pharmacy. Contact your GP or pharmacy if you would like a replacement repeat slip**.
Online
You can sign up to order your repeat prescriptions through Boots Online Prescriptions. You’ll need to tell us which item(s) are on your repeat prescription slip and then place an order online 10 days before you're due to run out. When your local Boots pharmacy receives your order, they will contact your GP to request a prescription. Once they get a prescription back from your GP, they can get your medication ready for you, and will let you know when it’s ready to collect. We’ll also let you know when it’s time to order again. Speak to your local Boots store if you’d like to understand more about ordering your prescriptions through Boots Online Prescriptions or for help signing up.
Repeat dispensing
Repeat dispensing is a process that allows GPs to issue suitable patients, often with stable long-term medical conditions, with a repeat prescription and up to a 12 month supply of batch issues (RDs) for that medication, so that you don’t need to contact your GP each time a new supply is needed. Repeat dispensing is offered across the UK and your GP may have spoken to you about this if you are suitable. You should contact your surgery if you’d like to know more about the scheme and whether it could benefit you.
An NHS prescription is issued by a prescriber, such as a doctor on behalf of the NHS or HSC. If you need a prescription, a healthcare professional may issue you with a one-off prescription if medication is only needed for a short period of time. You may also be given a repeat prescription for conditions that need ongoing treatment for a longer period of time.
NHS prescriptions are free of charge in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, if a prescription is issued in Scotland or Wales, but is dispensed in England, you will be required to pay the NHS England prescription charge, which is currently £9.65 per item, unless you have a qualifying exemption. Prescriptions issued in Northern Ireland are free of charge when dispensed anywhere in the UK.
The Boots Prescription Delivery Service is operated from many of our store locations across the UK.*** Speak to a member of your pharmacy team about potential availability in your location.
Please check with your GP surgery or local store on options for ordering your repeat prescription.
