Ordering medication online is one of the easiest ways for practices to increase uptake and usage in the NHS App and will save GP practices time as well as improve patient experience. Patients can use the NHS App, alongside practice websites and clinical systems, to view their previous orders and request a repeat prescription if the medication item is available to order.

It’s a completely free service which is quick, easy, and convenient for patients. When a patient selects a repeat prescription request, it is sent directly to the surgery for sign-off and then issued directly to the nominated pharmacy.

Orders can be made at any time at a patient’s convenience, they don’t have to wait for surgery to open. Once they have placed an order, patients can view their repeat prescriptions status and history, including when an item was last ordered. Across the SE Region over 51% of patients are enabled to order medication online, yet only 11% of patients order online in any month (Sept 2023), so that is a real opportunity to help people to self-serve when ordering medication.

GP practices can also consider, ordering medication by Proxy Care homes, doing this can smooth the medication ordering process for residents in care, again adding safety and saving time.  A website Prescriptions page should include:

• how to order medication
• how to select preferred (nominated) Pharmacy
• how to change nominated pharmacy via the NHS App
• How the practice medication review process works
• NHS Prescription Charges and Exemptions
• buy an NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC)

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