What are the legal requirements for an e-prescription in the UK?

To legally issue an e-prescription in the UK, it must have an advanced electronic signature, meet standard prescription requirements, and comply with data protection laws.

As digital healthcare continues to grow, the humble prescription is finally getting a modern makeover.

e-Prescribing - or the use of electronic prescriptions – is changing the way that doctors issue, pharmacies dispense, and patients receive their medication.

But with this digital shift comes an important question: What are the legal requirements for an e-prescription in the UK?

If you're a UK-based clinician, practice manager or private health provider, understanding the rules around e-prescribing is important.

Here’s everything you need to know, including how platforms like Healistic are making e-prescribing faster, safer and easier for both you and your patients.

What Is an e-Prescription?

An e-prescription is a digital version of a prescription that can be issued electronically by a qualified medical professional.

Instead of handwriting or printing a paper script, clinicians can now use secure software to create, sign and send prescriptions to a pharmacy or directly to the patient for delivery.

This process is particularly useful for those in private healthcare and telemedicine, where speed and convenience are important.

With platforms like Healistic, you can issue private e-prescriptions in seconds and have them delivered to your patient’s door within just 2 hours in London or 24 hours UK-wide.

What Makes an e-Prescription Legally Valid in the UK?

According to UK law, an electronic prescription must meet the same basic requirements as a traditional paper one, with a few digital-specific additions.

Here are the core legal elements of a valid e-prescription:

• The name, address and qualifications of the prescriber
• The patient’s full name and address
• The date the prescription was signed
• The age of the patient (if under 12)
• The name, strength, dosage and quantity of the medication
• Instructions for use and frequency
• A valid prescriber signature, which in the case of e-prescriptions must be an advanced electronic signature

What Is an Advanced Electronic Signature?

The Medicines for Human Use (Prescribing) Order 2005 and Regulation 219(5) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 set out the rules for digital signatures. For a signature to be legally valid on an electronic prescription, it must be:

• Unique to the prescriber
• Able to identify the prescriber
• Created under the sole control of the prescriber (typically through a secure login)
• Incapable of being altered once signed

This means that only the authorised medical professional has access to sign prescriptions, preventing fraud and maintaining clinical accountability.

Healistic’s e-prescription platform is fully compliant with these regulations. Each clinician is securely verified and issued a unique login, so every prescription is protected.

What About Controlled Drugs?

Yes, e-prescriptions can be used for Controlled Drugs in the UK – but only under certain rules.

For Schedule 2 and 3 controlled substances, prescriptions must meet extra requirements. These include:

• The total quantity of medication must be written in both words and figures
• The form and strength of the drug must be clearly stated
• The dose must be explicit and not left open to interpretation
• The prescription is only valid for 28 days from the date issued
• Prescriptions for Schedule 2 or 3 substances must be collected in person, and the person collecting must sign the back of the prescription form

Controlled Drugs can only be prescribed electronically using an advanced electronic signature through private providers like Healistic, who have developed a streamlined, regulation-compliant process for managing Controlled Drug prescriptions.

The Role of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

The EPS is an NHS-run system that allows prescriptions to be digitally sent from a GP or other healthcare provider to a community pharmacy. It is regularly used in primary care and increasingly in secondary care, out-of-hours clinics and community health settings.

While EPS is a powerful tool, it is primarily for NHS prescriptions. If you're issuing private prescriptions, you'll need a dedicated platform that can legally support electronic signing and delivery, such as Healistic.

How Is Patient Data Protected with e-Prescriptions?

With digital prescriptions, data security is just as important as legal compliance. A good e-prescription platform must be:

• Fully GDPR compliant
• PCI DSS certified for handling payment data
• Capable of encrypting all patient and prescription data

At Healistic, we make sure all data is securely stored and accessed only by authorised professionals.

From issuing a script to final delivery, all communication is encrypted and patients are given real-time tracking updates. Clinics also benefit from complete visibility, without the risk of lost scripts or having to worry about privacy breaches.

Why More Clinics Are Choosing Healistic for e-Prescriptions

Healistic has quickly become one of the UK's most trusted e-prescription providers, used by hundreds of clinics nationwide. It’s not just compliant – it’s convenient.

• Free to use for doctors and clinics
• Prescriptions issued in under a minute
• Delivery within 2 hours in London and 24 hours across the UK
• Support for repeat prescriptions and Controlled Drugs
• Handles all logistics, patient queries and pharmacy coordination
• Reduces clinic admin time by up to 10 hours per week

Want to try it out? Sign up here as a doctor or explore the patient portal.

e-Prescriptions in The UK

The legal requirements for e-prescriptions in the UK are clear: prescriptions must meet standard clinical guidelines, include an advanced electronic signature, and be issued by a qualified prescriber.

With increasing demand for digital healthcare, more clinics are turning to platforms like Healistic to meet these standards without sacrificing speed or safety.

If you're looking to bring your clinic into the digital age, now is the time to act. Discover how Healistic works and start issuing private e-prescriptions today: legally, quickly and stress-free.