If you take regular medicines for a long-term condition — blood pressure tablets, inhalers, contraceptive pills, thyroid medication — you probably have a repeat prescription. This means your GP has authorised your pharmacy to dispense the same medicines on a recurring basis without requiring a new consultation each time.
Managing repeat prescriptions efficiently saves time for patients, pharmacies, and GP surgeries alike. Here is how the system works in England in 2026.
How repeat prescriptions work
When your GP first prescribes a medicine for an ongoing condition, they may add it to your repeat prescription list. This authorises the medicine to be dispensed a set number of times (typically 6 or 12 months' worth) before a review is required.
Each time you need a new supply, someone must request the repeat — either you, your pharmacy, or an automated system. The GP surgery then issues the prescription electronically via the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS), and it arrives at your nominated pharmacy ready to be dispensed.
Four ways to order your repeat prescription
1. NHS App or NHS website
The most convenient option for many patients. Log into the NHS App (available on iOS and Android) or the NHS website, navigate to your prescriptions, tick the medicines you need, and submit. The prescription is sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
The NHS App also shows your prescription history and lets you change your nominated pharmacy without needing to contact your GP surgery.
2. GP surgery online portal
Many GP surgeries offer their own online ordering system (SystmOnline, Patient Access, or similar). You log in, select the medicines you need from your repeat list, and submit. This works similarly to the NHS App but uses the surgery's own platform.
3. Phone or in-person at the surgery
You can call your GP surgery's prescription line or drop in a repeat prescription slip (the paper counterfoil from your previous prescription). Allow 48 to 72 hours for processing. Some surgeries have a dedicated prescription request line or email address.
4. Pharmacy-managed repeats
Many community pharmacies offer a repeat prescription management service. You authorise the pharmacy to request your repeats on your behalf, and they handle the entire process — ordering from the GP, dispensing, and notifying you when your medicines are ready. Some pharmacies also offer home delivery as part of this service.
This is particularly useful for patients on multiple medicines or those who find it difficult to manage ordering themselves. Ask your pharmacy whether they offer this service.
Timing: when to order
Order 7 to 10 days before you run out. This allows time for the GP surgery to process the request, the prescription to be sent electronically, and the pharmacy to dispense and check your medicines. Ordering too early may be rejected by the surgery; ordering too late risks a gap in treatment.
Do not stockpile. GP surgeries monitor repeat ordering patterns and may query requests that come too frequently. Most prescriptions are issued for 28 days' supply, though some medicines (such as the contraceptive pill) may be issued for 3 months.
What to do if something goes wrong
Medicine not on your repeat list. If you need a medicine that isn't listed as a repeat, you will need to contact your GP surgery. The pharmacist cannot add medicines to your repeat prescription — that is a clinical decision for the prescriber.
Prescription not arrived at pharmacy. If your pharmacy says they haven't received your prescription, contact your GP surgery to check whether it has been issued. Electronic prescriptions occasionally fail to transmit, and the surgery can re-send.
Medicine out of stock. If your pharmacy cannot obtain a particular medicine, they will usually contact you to discuss alternatives — either sourcing from a different supplier (which may take a day or two) or asking your GP to prescribe a therapeutically equivalent alternative.
Review overdue. Your GP may decline to issue further repeats if you are overdue for a medication review. This is a safety measure. Book a review appointment, and your repeats will be reinstated once the GP is satisfied your treatment is still appropriate.
The Electronic Prescription Service
Since 2019, the vast majority of prescriptions in England have been sent electronically from GP surgeries to pharmacies via EPS. Paper prescriptions are now rare for repeat items. EPS means:
- Your prescription is waiting at the pharmacy before you arrive
- Less risk of lost or illegible paper scripts
- You can change your nominated pharmacy through the NHS App without paperwork
According to PharmSee's analysis, over 13,000 community pharmacies across England are connected to EPS. To find pharmacies near you, use PharmSee's pharmacy search or explore your local area with the location analysis tool. For pharmacy job seekers, dispensing volume — driven substantially by repeat prescriptions — is one of the key workload indicators visible on PharmSee's pharmacy profiles.
Sources: NHS England Electronic Prescription Service guidance; NHS App documentation. This article provides general information about the repeat prescription process in England. Specific arrangements may vary by GP surgery and pharmacy.