Under UK law, only registered healthcare practitioners can provide
you a pharmacy prescription. A medicine prescriber is a medical professional
who has the licence to write a pharmacy prescription. This applies to the NHS prescriptions as well as private prescriptions.
An appropriate healthcare practitioner is
- An independent prescriber – Someone who is able to prescribe medications under their own initiative
- A supplementary prescriber – Someone who is able to prescribe medications in association with a pre-agreed healthcare plan drawn up between a GP and a patient
Independent
PrescribersIndependent prescribers are medical professionals who are
responsible for assessing your health and making clinical decisions about
treating your condition, including prescribing medicines. They could be doctors
or GPs, dentists (particularly for oral health), nurse independent prescribers
or pharmacist independent prescribers.
Nurse independent prescribers can advise medicines for
medical problems within their competence, including some MHRA controlled
medications. Even pharmacist independent prescribers can suggest you pharmacy
prescriptions for minor ailments within their competence.
Supplementary
PrescribersA supplementary prescriber is responsible for continuing
your health care after the assessment of your condition by an independent
prescriber. Usually, supplementary prescribers work with an independent
prescriber to carry out a therapeutic plan agreed between the prescriber and
you. A supplementary prescriber could be a nurse, pharmacist, podiatrist,
physiotherapist or optometrist.
For instance, your doctor (an independent prescriber) will
assess your condition such as osteoarthritis and refer you to a physiotherapist
(a supplementary prescriber) to manage your long-term care. So, here, your
physiotherapist will be able to prescribe medications that are required for
your long-term treatment plan.
Can I pick pharmacy
prescription for someone else?You can collect a repeat prescription from a doctor for your
relative or friend, but not a NHS prescription or a private prescription. For
repeat prescriptions, you will be asked to confirm the name and address of the
patient you are collecting the pharmacy prescription for. Some may even ask for
your identity proof to prevent incorrect prescription. Your local or online
pharmacy such as Pharmacy Outlet may offer a prescription collection service.
You can take a prescription to the pharmacy to collect
someone else’s medicine for them. However, the patient must complete one of the
prescription forms and the person collecting medicines must complete a few
questionnaires.
If you want to collect pharmacy prescription for controlled
medicine, the pharmacist will request you to provide a proof for identity. The
dispensing pharmacist has the right to assess the pharmacy prescription and the
person collecting it.
Pharmacy
Outlet is one of the UK’s registered online pharmacies that offer NHS
prescriptions, electronic prescriptions, repeat prescription and private
prescriptions.
