Repeat prescription
What it really means
A prescription for medicine you take regularly, which you can re-order without seeing the doctor each time — online, in the NHS App or through the surgery. Order a few days before you run out.
Context, tips & common mistakes
Order repeats through the NHS App or your GP's online system about a week before you run out — same-day rescue is hard, because requests take a couple of working days to process and the pharmacy needs time to dispense. Nominate a pharmacy in the app and prescriptions flow to it electronically; you just collect.
GPs periodically require a medication review before reauthorising repeats — if the app refuses an order, that is usually why, so book the review promptly rather than rationing doses. Going abroad for a while? Ask the surgery in good time about supplies to cover the trip. And never buy prescription-only medicine from random websites; unregulated online pharmacies are a well-documented source of fakes.
Example conversation
What you could say back
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