Private prescriptions repeatable

Unlike NHS prescription forms, non-NffS (private) prescription forms may be repeatable (except in the case of non-NffS (private) prescription forms for Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 controlled drugs - see Section 6.3.3). In this situation, the prescriber will annotate the prescription form to indicate that the prescription may be dispensed more than once. 

With repeat prescribing on a non-NHS (private) prescription form, the prescriber will annotate with the number of times that the prescription may be repeated (for example, repeat X 3 ). In this example, the prescription may be dispensed a total of four times (i.e. one initial dispensing and then three repeats). On the first, second and third dispensing, the prescription may be returned to the patient as they are not obliged to receive subsequent supplies from the same pharmacy (see Section 5.1.7). However, many patients will return to the same pharmacy and so may ask you to hold the prescription on their behalf. 

In addition, it is important not to confuse repeatable non-NHS (private) prescriptions with instalment dispensing for addicts (see Section 6.3.5), where the NHS prescription is only dispensed once although the dispensing takes place in instalments. 

If a non-NHS (private) prescription form stated that the medication may be repeated three times, the item may be supplied a total of four times (i.e. the one original dispensing, followed by three repeats). 

After the last dispensing, the prescription will be retained by the dispensing pharmacy. The exception to this would be if there were, for example, two items on the prescription form and only one of those was repeatable. If the repeatable item were on the non-NHS (private) prescription form on its own, the form would be returned to the patient. However, as there is a non-repeatable item on the form, the form must be retained by the dispensing pharmacy. Therefore in rare cases such as these, the patient will have to return to the same pharmacy to obtain any repeats of the repeatable medication. 

All supplies of medication will need to be entered in the prescription-only medicines register. However, if the supply is a repeat (and the pharmacy where the repeat is being dispensed has previously dispensed the medication), it is sufficient for the new entry in the prescription-only medicines register (which will have a new reference number) to refer to the details of the older entry (by referring to the older entry s reference number). Therefore, it is useful when stamping a non-NHS (private) prescription form... 

Non-NHS (private) prescription forms may be repeatable. The first dispensing must take place within six months from the date on the prescription. 

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