Can you email a private prescription in the UK?

No, can’t email a private prescription as a PDF or photo in the UK, it must either be a paper copy signed in ink or have an advanced electronic signature.

If you are wondering whether you can email a private prescription to a pharmacy, you are not alone.

With so much of healthcare now moving online, it feels like it should be as simple as sending over a PDF or a photo. The reality is a little different. In the UK, there are clear rules about how private prescriptions can be sent and not every digital version is valid.

Here is what you need to know, and how Healistic makes the whole process easier, faster and safer.

What makes a private prescription legal?

In the UK, there are only two ways a private prescription can be issued. It can be given on paper and signed in ink, or it can be sent electronically if it follows strict rules.

For any private prescription to be valid, it must include:

• The prescriber’s signature (either in ink or as an advanced electronic signature)
• The prescriber’s address and professional details
• The date it was issued
• The patient’s name and address
• The patient’s age if they are under 12

Without all of these details, a prescription will not be accepted by a pharmacy.

Why you can’t just email a prescription

It might seem like the quickest solution, but emailing a scanned copy, a photo or a PDF of a prescription does not make it legal.

Pharmacies are not allowed to dispense from this because it does not count as an advanced electronic signature.

That means:

• A photocopy or computer-printed signature is not valid
• A scanned signature on an emailed document cannot legally be dispensed

If a prescription is not signed correctly, you will still need a paper copy that is signed in ink.

What counts as an electronic prescription?

A valid electronic prescription has to include what the law calls an 'advanced electronic signature'. That means it needs to be:

• Unique to the prescriber
• Capable of identifying them
• Created under their sole control
• Secure enough that any changes would be detectable

Only certain systems in the UK are able to provide this level of security.

Systems that work for private e-prescriptions

There are now a few digital platforms that allow doctors to issue fully compliant private electronic prescriptions. These include:

• Healistic, the UK’s fastest and easiest e-prescription and delivery platform
• Clynxx, the official UK system for private advanced electronic prescriptions
• SignatureRx, which allows prescriptions to be sent as barcodes that patients can take to pharmacies

How Healistic makes e-prescribing simple

At Healistic, we make private prescribing straightforward. Instead of worrying about whether a PDF will be accepted, you can issue fully compliant prescriptions in under a minute.

Here is how it works:

Issue prescriptions quickly - Doctors can create private e-prescriptions instantly from a computer, tablet or phone.

We handle the fulfilment - Our partner pharmacies source the medication, check pricing and dispense it.

Fast home delivery - Patients receive their medication within 2 hours in London and within 24 hours across the UK, with real-time tracking and support from a pharmacist if they need it.

The best part is that Healistic is free for doctors and clinics. Patients simply pay a £2.50 delivery fee per prescription.

Request a free demo today to see how Healistic can save you time and make prescribing easier.

So, can you email a private prescription?

The short answer is no. You can't just email a photo or PDF of a prescription to a pharmacy and expect it to be valid.

It must either be a paper prescription signed in ink, or an electronic prescription issued through a secure, compliant platform that uses an advanced electronic signature.

With Healistic, you do not need to think about these details. Every prescription issued on our platform is compliant, secure and ready for fulfilment and delivery straight to your patient’s door.

Making private prescriptions easy

Private prescribing should not feel complicated. Patients want their medication quickly and safely, and doctors do not want to waste time chasing pharmacies or dealing with paperwork.

That is why hundreds of UK doctors are already using Healistic’s e-prescription platform. It is fast, free and designed to save you hours of admin every week while giving your patients the convenience of home delivery.

Ready to see the difference for yourself? Book a free demo with Healistic today and discover the smarter way to prescribe.