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Prescriptions in the NHS App

Patients can order repeat prescriptions, view their prescription details and nominate a pharmacy

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What you need to know

Request repeat prescriptions

Patients can request repeat prescriptions in the NHS App. The request is sent to the surgery for sign-off and issued to their nominated pharmacy. Some patients can now track their prescriptions. 

In your GP clinical system, you can*:

  • control if patients can order repeat prescriptions
  • give patients full visibility of their repeat prescriptions
  • Set how far in advance patients can request repeat prescriptions
  • manually change prescription status from 'Pending' to 'Approved' or 'Rejected'
  • control if patients must give a reason when requesting prescriptions
  • see medication review dates, last order dates, and prescription types

*Features may vary depending on your system supplier. Patients can only order repeat prescriptions (not acute or repeat dispensing prescriptions). 

Nominate a pharmacy

Patients can change their nominated pharmacy in the NHS App at any time to a pharmacy convenient to them. Patients at dispensing practices cannot nominate a pharmacy.

View prescription details

Patients can view their prescription details in the NHS App, including the items prescribed, prescription type (repeat/one-off) and who the prescribing professional is.

Those without a nominated pharmacy can generate a barcode in their NHS App to collect medication at a pharmacy without a paper prescription.  

Patients may not see a confirmed digital prescription if: 

  • it’s unavailable until a future date
  • it’s cancelled or was issued more than 6 months ago
  • it was prescribed for an inpatient to be dispensed by the hospital pharmacy
  • their pharmacy manages their repeat medication supply

Find out more about viewing, ordering and collecting prescriptions in the NHS App.

Benefits for staff and patients

Reduced phone calls and administrative burden
Reduced phone calls and administrative burden
  • Patients don’t need to call to request repeat prescriptions or find out the status of prescriptions as they can see it’s being managed. This shortens the telephone queue and frees up staff time to focus on other matters.
  • Prescribers can save time by scanning barcodes rather than manually searching for prescriptions and dispensers can handle prescription queries prior to collection.
More convenience
More convenience
  • Patients can request repeat prescriptions 24/7 at their convenience, without having to travel, call or wait for the practice to open.
  • Patients can change where they collect prescriptions to where it’s most convenient for them at any time and don’t need to travel to collect paper tokens.
Greater visibility
Greater visibility
  • Patients can see all prescription information in one place, including prescription status’s and when their medications were last ordered.
  • There is an improved audit trail; patients can track medications, identify issues earlier and query them before collection.
Cost savings
Cost savings
  • Prescribers don’t need to print prescription tokens and will need to send fewer text messages with prescription ID during out-of-hours prescribing, reducing printing and SMS costs.

Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon with prescriptions in the NHS App roadmap.

Further Information

Tell your patients about prescriptions in the NHS App

Use our promotional packs

Watch and share the step by step Order your repeat prescriptions in the NHS App walk through video.

Help and support

Resolve common issues with the troubleshooting guide for staff.

If patients have issues you cannot resolve, raise this with your system supplier and the NHS App team.

Refer patients who need support using the NHS App to the NHS website.

Last edited: 17 July 2025 10:04 am