How to get an emergency NHS prescription
Need your NHS medicine in an emergency? This guide explains what to do. If you're worried about your health, call NHS 111 or if your condition is life-threatening, dial 999.
2 million registered patients
NHS partner for 25 years
UK’s largest online pharmacy
Proudly certified BCorp
Can I get an emergency prescription?
You may need an emergency prescription if:
You already have a prescription and have run out of medicine
You don’t have a prescription but need one urgently
You’re visiting the UK from another country and need an emergency prescription
You’re away from home and usually receive an NHS prescription
Depending on your circumstances, there are a few different ways in which you could obtain an NHS emergency prescription.
How to get an NHS emergency prescription if you already have a repeat prescription
If you already have an NHS repeat prescription and need your medicine urgently, there are four options.
Contact NHS 111 by phone or online
Visit a pharmacy
Visit an urgent treatment centre
Call your GP surgery
What do I need to get an NHS emergency prescription from a pharmacy?
To get an emergency prescription from a pharmacist, you will need:
To see a pharmacist in person
Evidence that you have previously received a prescription from a healthcare professional for the medicine you’re requesting – bring either a repeat prescription slip, the medicine packaging or the medicine itself
The pharmacist to agree that you need the medicine urgently and immediately
The pharmacist to make sure the dose is right for you
How to get an NHS emergency prescription if you don’t have a prescription
If you don’t have a prescription, you should try to contact the healthcare professional who usually prescribes your medicine. If you can’t speak with them, you can get an emergency prescription from a pharmacist in certain circumstances. Phone ahead to check if they’ve got the medicine in stock and try to take an old prescription note, medicine or the medicine’s packaging with you.
There is no guarantee that the pharmacist will give you an emergency prescription for your requested medication, especially if they do not think the medicine or dose is right for you, or if they are unable to ascertain if it’s a regular medicine that has been prescribed previously. If you are issued an emergency medicine, you may need to pay for it even if you don’t normally. The pharmacist will be able to talk you through any related costs.
However, if your medicine is not prescribed on repeat prescription, the best thing to do in most circumstances is to seek help from NHS 111 either online or by calling 111 to discuss your options.
If you don’t have a prescription, you can also use our online Pharmacy First service to see if you can receive clinical advice and suitable treatments for selected common health conditions without needing to see your GP.
What our patients say
Rated excellent with 400,000+ reviews as of October 2023
Worry free service
This service has taken all the worry out of ordering repeat perscriptions. They remind you when perscriptions are due & they are posted & within a couple of days they are there on your door mat. Exemplary service. Thank you.
Hester Pendino
Great service
Great service. With good liaison with my GP. And order always efficiently delivered. So much easier than queueing at the local chemist. I started using Pharmacy2U during the pandemic and no turning back.
Hilary Simpson
The help line staff were excellent
The help line staff were excellent, they understood my issue straightaway, told me they would need to speak to a line manager and would get back to me. The same person got back to me later in the day with an answer, issue resolved
Linda Lauren
Great user friendly service
This is a very easy service to use.
I order my medication online from the drs it goes straight through to Pharmacy2U they confirm they have received it and it is sent out for delivery. With emails keeping me informed of its status all along the way.Neil Etheridge
I get reminders when I need to order
I get reminders when I need to order. It is easy to order and I get updates to let me know how my order is progressing. Within a very short time it is put out for delivery. It is then up to Royal Mail to post it through my letterbox.
Janet Tittensor
Losing the monthly stress
Being able to request my prescription from the doctors and knowing that the items I require will be delivered to my door without delay. Originally I would go to the pharmacy after a 5 day wait to find that my prescription was not ready, so thank you for making my life easier.
Pat Cruttenden
Excellent service
Excellent service. Timely as ever. Prompted by P2U to re-order. From sending order to receipt was 7 days. Excellent as it includes GP’s approval sign off.
Ceijag
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can get an emergency prescription during your time in the UK, but you do have to meet a certain set of criteria.
The pharmacist will need to be sure that:
The medication you are requesting has been prescribed to you by a doctor or dentist registered in a European Economic Area country or Switzerland before and the prescription is valid. The pharmacist will ask for evidence of this, as US or Canadian prescriptions can’t be fulfilled in the UK. Emergency prescriptions from other healthcare providers like nurses are not valid.
The medication you are requesting has UK marketing authorisation and is not a controlled drug. Any medicines in those categories will not be dispensed.
The emergency prescription request is readable and written in a language the pharmacist understands. Faxed prescriptions are not valid or legal, only printed paper prescriptions signed in ink will be accepted.
If it’s an emergency, you should go to your nearest A&E.
Download the Pharmacy2U app
Effortlessly manage your NHS repeat prescriptions anywhere, anytime with the Pharmacy2U app. Free to download and use, you can request the medicines you need and set handy reminders to reorder.
