Collecting a prescription from a GP surgery

You can collect a repeat prescription from a GP surgery for a friend or relative if that person has told the surgery they’re happy for you to collect it. You’ll usually be asked to confirm the name and address of the person you’re collecting the prescription for.

The GP surgery isn’t legally required to check your identity, but some surgeries may ask for proof of identity to prevent the wrong prescription being given out to a patient.

Your local pharmacy may offer a prescription collection service, whereby a pharmacist will collect your prescription from the GP surgery for you. The person collecting your prescription may need to confirm their identity and prove they’re acting on your behalf and with your permission. Pharmacists, like GPs, have a responsibility to ensure all patients’ details are kept confidential.

Taking a prescription to the pharmacy

You can take a prescription form to the pharmacy to collect someone else’s medication for them. The patient must complete part one of the prescription form (FP10) and the person collecting the medication must complete parts two and three.

If a patient has to pay prescription charges, the correct amount must be entered in part two. If they’re exempt from paying prescription charges, the correct evidence should be provided.

The pharmacist will check the back of the FP10 form to make sure it’s signed and the appropriate category is ticked if the person is exempt from paying charges, and you’re acting on their behalf and have their permission.

If you have a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), you can only use it for prescriptions that have been issued to you and not if you’re collecting a prescription for someone else.

A penalty charge may be issued if a false exemption claim is made, and the person making the false claim could be prosecuted. Routine checks are carried out.

If you’re collecting “controlled medication” for someone else, the pharmacist may request proof of identity. Controlled medication includes morphine, pethidine and methadone. As these are sometimes misused they have stricter legal controls on their supply.

The dispensing pharmacist will use their professional judgement to assess the prescription and the person collecting it, as well as who the medicine is prescribed for and the specific situation.