Request or view prescriptions - NHS App help and support (2024)

Each prescription contains a maximum of 4 items. If you are expecting more than 4 items, you will have multiple approved prescriptions shown in the app. You may have to scroll down the page to view these.

All of your prescriptions containing all of your expected medications may not be visible via the App at the same time. One of the reasons for this may be because some of your medicine requests may take longer to approve than others.

If no pharmacy nominated and you have requested more than 4 items, you may need to show more than one barcode.

You may not be able to order some prescription items if:

• you need a medicine review
• it’s too early to order your medicine
• it’s an acute (short-term) or one-off prescription
• it has already been requested
• you have a repeat dispensing prescription

You can contact your GP surgery to book a medicine review or to find out when you can next order your prescription. To check if you have an acute (short-term) or repeat prescription, go to Your health, then, View and manage prescriptions, then select Your approved prescriptions.

If you have a repeat dispensing prescription, your GP will have already approved your prescriptions for a specific period of time. You do not need to request the prescription again. These prescriptions will not be displayed within Your approved prescriptions.

You may not see a repeat prescription listed if:

• it was issued more than 6 months ago
• it was prescribed at a hospital or other secondary care centre
• it was issued at a time when you lived outside of England
• your GP surgery does not currently offer repeat prescriptions online

You can see when your repeat prescription request is:

• waiting for approval
• approved
• rejected. If your request is rejected and you need further information contact your GP surgery.

You can now view your approved prescriptions.

A approved prescription will appear once it has been approved by a healthcare professional.

Each of your approved prescription(s) will show:

• medicines or devices that have been approved and prescribed for you
• details of who prescribed the medicines or devices
• details of your nominated pharmacy
• a prescription barcode if you do not have a nominated pharmacy

If you have a nominated pharmacy your prescriptions will be sent to your chosen pharmacy as normal.

If you do not have a nominated pharmacy, you can take your prescription barcode to any pharmacy of your choice to receive your medication

You may not see an approved prescription if

• it is prescribed but unavailable to you until a future date
• it is cancelled
• it was issued more than 6 months ago
• it was prescribed at a hospital or other secondary care centre
• your pharmacy manages your repeat medication supply on a regular basis (repeat dispensing)

Your pharmacy might ask to check your ID. We recommend that you bring photo ID when you collect your medicine.

If you have a nominated pharmacy, it can take up to 3 to 5 working days for the pharmacy to prepare your prescription. If you need your medicines urgently, please contact your nominated pharmacy.

If you do not have a nominated pharmacy, you can take your prescription barcode to any pharmacy of your choice to receive your medication.
You may have to wait whilst your prescription is prepared and the pharmacy may need to order stock in to fulfil your prescription.