Common Health Questions

Collecting a prescription from the GP surgery

You can collect a repeat prescription for a friend, or relative, from the GP surgery. You will usually be asked to confirm the name and address of the person you are collecting the prescription for. The GP surgery is not legally required to check your identity, but it is considered good practice to check in order to prevent the wrong prescription being given out to a patient.

Your local pharmacy may offer a prescription collection service, which means that a pharmacist will collect your prescription from the GP surgery for you. They need to be able to confirm their identity and prove that they are acting on your behalf and with your permission. Pharmacists, like GPs, have a responsibility to make sure that all patients' details are kept confidential.

Taking a prescription to the pharmacy

You can take a prescription to the pharmacy to collect someone else's medication for them.

If the person is registered with a Scottish GP and you are taking the prescription to a pharmacy in Scotland, then complete part B of the prescription form (GP 10). Sign and put a cross in the box to indicate that you are the patient's representative.

Part C of the form does not need to be completed by either you or the patient, as prescriptions are free in Scotland for everyone.

If you are collecting the prescription in another part of the United Kingdom, then either you or the patient needs to complete Part C of the form.

If you are collecting 'controlled medication' for someone else, you are legally required to show the pharmacist proof of your identity. Controlled medication includes morphine, pethidine, and methadone amongst others. These medicines are prone to being misused, so have stricter legal controls on their supply.