Prescription information
From your prescriber to your hands.
A clear, four-step picture of how a prescription reaches us and how it reaches you — including the extra rules that apply to controlled drugs such as morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl.
The process
What happens, in order.
01
Ask your prescriber
A GP, nurse prescriber or specialist must issue the prescription. We cannot supply prescription-only medicines without one, and we cannot issue one ourselves.
02
Nominate our pharmacy
For NHS prescriptions, ask your surgery to send it electronically to PAIN RELIEF, or nominate us in the NHS App. For private prescriptions, ask your prescriber to send it to us directly.
03
We check and dispense
A pharmacist validates the prescription, screens it against your other medicines and dispenses it. If something is unclear, we contact your prescriber before supplying anything.
04
Collect or receive
Collect from the pharmacy or choose free Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery. Items requiring identification are handed over only to the named patient or their representative.
Controlled drugs
The rules that apply to strong painkillers.
Controlled drugs are regulated more tightly than other medicines. These requirements protect patients, and we apply them without exception.
Validity periods
NHS prescriptions are normally valid for 28 days from the date they are signed. Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drug prescriptions are valid for 28 days only, and must be dispensed within that period.
Identification
For controlled drugs and some high-risk medicines we will ask for photo identification and may confirm your address. This is a legal requirement, not a formality.
No early repeats
Controlled drugs cannot be dispensed earlier than the prescriber has specified. We cannot advance a supply because of travel, loss or running out.
Private prescriptions
Private prescriptions from UK-registered prescribers are accepted. We confirm the total cost, including dispensing and delivery, before we dispense.
Costs
NHS charges, exemptions and private pricing.
We do not add a markup to NHS prescription charges. Private prices are confirmed before dispensing, and we will always tell you if a cheaper equivalent is available.
- The standard NHS prescription charge applies per item in England, unless you are exempt.
- Exemptions include under-19s in full-time education, over-60s, some benefits and certain medical conditions.
- A prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) caps the total cost if you need several items a month.
- Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Private prescription costs vary by medicine — we confirm the total before dispensing.
Not sure where to start?
Register with us and we will request your repeats from your GP.
Once registered, we handle the requests, the reminders and the delivery. You keep the same prescriber and the same clinical oversight.
Register as a patient