# How Do Repeat Prescriptions Work? | Pick My Pharmacy

URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/how-do-repeat-prescriptions-work/
Description: Repeat prescriptions let you reorder regular medication without seeing your GP each time, via your surgery, the NHS App, or your nominated pharmacy.

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Using Your Pharmacy

# How do repeat prescriptions work?

By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026

In short

A repeat prescription lets you reorder medicine you take regularly without booking a GP appointment each time. You can request it through your GP surgery, the NHS App, or ask your nominated pharmacy to order it on your behalf — it's then sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy for dispensing.

At a glance

- ·Available for medicines your GP has marked as repeatable
- ·Ordered via GP surgery, NHS App, or your nominated pharmacy
- ·Sent electronically through the NHS Electronic Prescription Service
- ·Usually takes a few working days — order before you run out
- ·GPs review repeat medication periodically, sometimes requiring a check-up

## Requesting a repeat prescription

Your GP surgery issues a repeat prescription list for regular medication. You can request the next batch online through your surgery's system, via the NHS App, over the phone, or by asking your nominated pharmacy to order it directly with your GP on your behalf.

## Getting it dispensed

Once ordered, your GP approves the prescription and it's sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy through the Electronic Prescription Service. The pharmacy dispenses it, ready for collection or delivery — no paper prescription changes hands.

## Timing it right

Order a few working days before you run out to allow for processing and dispensing time, especially around bank holidays. Running critically low is riskier with items in short supply — see what to do if your medication is out of stock.

Next step

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## People Also Ask
Can my pharmacy order my repeat prescription for me?+
Yes, if you're registered with them for this service, many pharmacies will request your repeat prescription from your GP on your behalf, so you don't need to contact the surgery yourself.
Why might my GP stop a repeat prescription?+
GPs periodically review repeat medicines and may ask you to book a check-up before reissuing — this is a normal safety check, particularly for medicines that need monitoring.

Keep reading

- [What is a nominated pharmacy?](/answers/what-is-a-nominated-pharmacy/)
- [What happens if my medication is out of stock?](/answers/what-happens-if-my-medication-is-out-of-stock/)
- [Do pharmacies deliver prescriptions?](/answers/do-pharmacies-deliver-prescriptions/)
- [NHS prescriptions](/services/nhs-prescriptions/)
- [Prescription delivery](/services/prescription-delivery/)

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This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).