If you take medication regularly, your GP may place suitable items on repeat prescription. This allows you to request those medicines without arranging a GP appointment every time, although the request still needs to follow your surgery's process.
Where can I order a repeat prescription online?
The NHS says repeat prescriptions can be ordered by logging into the NHS App or the NHS website. GP surgeries may also use another approved online service or app. Use the route your GP surgery supports.
When you submit a request, it goes to your GP surgery for review. The GP or prescriber remains responsible for approving and issuing the prescription.
How to request repeat medication
- Open the NHS App, NHS website or online service used by your GP surgery.
- Review the repeat medicines available to request.
- Select only the items you currently need and submit the request.
- Follow any status information or messages shown by your GP surgery's service.
Some medicines may not be available to request online, for example when a review is needed or the item is not set up as an orderable repeat. Contact your GP surgery if an expected item is missing or the service tells you to get in touch.
Ordering and pharmacy nomination are separate
Ordering a repeat prescription asks the GP surgery to consider issuing medication. Nominating a pharmacy records where eligible electronic prescriptions should be sent after they are issued. Choosing a pharmacy does not automatically order your medicines.
Think of it as two decisions.
First request the medicine through your GP surgery. Separately, choose the pharmacy that should receive approved electronic prescriptions.
How do I choose prescription delivery?
The NHS explains that an online-only pharmacy can send prescriptions by post and must be chosen by registering through that pharmacy's website or contacting it directly. To use Letter Box Pharmacy, follow the online pharmacy nomination guide and review the pharmacy details before confirming.
Once the prescription has been issued and received, the pharmacy follows its dispensing process. Delivery and Royal Mail tracking only come after dispensing and dispatch.
When should I order?
NHS guidance says it is important to request a repeat prescription up to 5 working days before you need the medicine. Actual processing can involve both the GP surgery and pharmacy, so use the instructions and status information they provide rather than assuming a fixed delivery date.
If you change your nominated pharmacy after requesting a prescription, an outstanding item may still be sent to the pharmacy selected at the time of the request.
What if I have run out?
A normal online request and postal delivery are not emergency services. If you have completely run out of prescribed medicine and need it urgently, follow the NHS emergency prescription guidance. Depending on the situation, the NHS may direct you to 111 online, a pharmacy, your GP surgery or another appropriate service.