Are e-prescriptions accepted at all UK pharmacies?
Yes, e-prescriptions are accepted at nearly all UK pharmacies, thanks to the NHS Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and the growing use of secure private systems like Healistic.
Whether you are collecting medication from your local pharmacy or having it delivered to your door, electronic prescriptions have made the process faster, safer and more convenient than ever. Here is everything you need to know about how it works.
What Is the NHS Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)?
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS system that allows doctors to send prescriptions directly to a pharmacy electronically rather than handing patients a paper form.
Since 2019, all eligible NHS GP prescriptions in England have been sent via EPS, and more than 95% of prescriptions are now electronic.
The system operates 24/7, reducing paperwork and helping patients collect their medicine without needing to visit their GP in person.
EPS is also expanding across community pharmacies, hospital trusts and mental health services, and is currently being rolled out in Wales.
Can You Use an E-Prescription at Any Pharmacy?
In most cases, yes, but it depends on how your prescription has been set up.
1. NHS e-prescriptions
Nearly all community pharmacies in England are enabled for EPS, meaning they can receive and dispense electronic prescriptions.
You can collect your medication from any EPS-enabled pharmacy or use the NHS App to find and track your prescription.
2. Private e-prescriptions
Private e-prescriptions, such as those issued through Healistic, can be dispensed at most UK pharmacies that support digital scripts. If you are unsure, it is best to call ahead to confirm the pharmacy can process private electronic prescriptions.
Nominated vs Non-Nominated Pharmacies
When using EPS, you can either nominate a pharmacy or keep your prescriptions open for collection anywhere.
Nominated Pharmacy
If you have nominated a pharmacy, through your GP or the NHS App, your prescriptions are sent there automatically every time. This is ideal for people who regularly use the same pharmacy for repeat medications.
Non-Nominated Pharmacy
If you have not nominated a pharmacy, your GP will issue a barcode that you can show at any EPS-enabled pharmacy to collect your medicine. You can also temporarily change your nominated pharmacy if you are away from home.
How to Collect an E-Prescription
- Via EPS: Your prescription is sent directly to your nominated pharmacy.
- Without a nominated pharmacy: Use the barcode on your NHS App or GP email to collect from any pharmacy that supports EPS.
- For private prescriptions (like Healistic): You will receive a prescription ID via SMS or email. Present this and your date of birth at any participating pharmacy to collect your medication.
If your chosen pharmacy does not have the medication in stock, they can order it or you can ask your prescriber to redirect the prescription elsewhere.
The Benefits of Electronic Prescriptions
E-prescriptions are convenient and also help improve healthcare for patients, prescribers and pharmacists.
For doctors and prescribers:
- Less paperwork and faster workflows
- Reduced risk of errors compared to handwritten scripts
- Secure digital records and easier repeat management
For pharmacies:
- Better stock control and reduced admin
- Fewer lost or illegible prescriptions
- Ability to handle prescriptions more efficiently
For patients:
- No need to visit your GP for paper scripts
- Track and manage prescriptions easily via the NHS App
- Greater flexibility with the option to collect in person or use a delivery service
Tracking Your Prescription
The NHS App now includes a prescription tracking feature that lets patients check the status and readiness of their medications in real time.
This feature, launched in 2024, helps reduce phone calls to GP surgeries and pharmacies while keeping patients updated on when their medicine is ready for collection.
How Healistic Makes Private E-Prescribing Even Easier
While EPS powers NHS prescriptions, Healistic brings the same digital convenience to private clinics and doctors.
Using Healistic, healthcare professionals can:
Issue e-prescriptions in under 60 seconds from desktop, tablet or mobile
Rely on Healistic’s nationwide pharmacy network to source and dispense medication
Offer rapid delivery within 2 hours in London or 24 hours across the UK
For patients, Healistic means no pharmacy queues, no lost prescriptions and full delivery tracking, all while keeping costs transparent.
Pricing for patients:
- £3.50 flat delivery fee per script
- Competitive pricing through Healistic’s UK pharmacy partners
- No hidden charges or subscription fees
Healistic is also fully GDPR and ICO compliant, ensuring patient data is encrypted, stored securely and only accessed by authorised professionals.
e-Prescribing
Yes, e-prescriptions are accepted at almost all UK pharmacies. The NHS Electronic Prescription Service covers the vast majority of prescriptions in England, and most private pharmacies now accept digital prescriptions too.
With platforms such as Healistic, patients can take convenience one step further by having prescriptions fulfilled and delivered without ever visiting a pharmacy.
Take the Hassle Out of Prescriptions with Healistic
Join the hundreds of UK clinics already simplifying their prescribing process with Healistic. Issue e-prescriptions in seconds, reduce admin and get your patients the medication they need, fast.
Book a free demo to see how Healistic can transform your prescribing workflow.