NHS Prescription Services Across Scotland
Right Medicine Pharmacy provides efficient, professional dispensing of NHS prescriptions across our community pharmacies. Whether your prescription has been sent electronically, issued on paper or arranged as part of your ongoing care, our pharmacy teams will complete the necessary checks and prepare your medication safely.
Many prescriptions can be prepared while you wait, although the time required depends on the medicines prescribed, stock availability and the clinical checks needed. You are also welcome to leave your prescription and return at an agreed time.
Our pharmacies can dispense private prescriptions too. For information about charges and availability, visit our Private Scripts page.
What Happens When a Prescription Is Dispensed?
Dispensing involves more than selecting a medicine from a shelf. Before supplying your treatment, the pharmacy team must check that the prescription is valid, clinically appropriate and clear.
The dispensing process may include:
- Confirming the patient’s identity
- Checking the medicine, strength, dose and directions
- Reviewing relevant information in the pharmacy’s patient medication record
- Checking for possible interactions, duplication or allergies
- Clarifying unclear or unusual instructions with the prescriber
- Preparing and labelling each item
- Completing a final accuracy check
- Explaining how to use the medicine safely
If the pharmacist needs to contact your GP practice or another prescriber, preparing the prescription may take longer. These checks are an important part of dispensing medication safely.
Are NHS Prescriptions Free in Scotland?
NHS prescriptions dispensed in Scotland are free. You do not normally have to pay an NHS prescription charge for medication prescribed and supplied through NHS Scotland.
Different rules can apply to prescriptions issued elsewhere in the UK. For example, an English prescription presented in Scotland may be charged at the applicable English rate unless the patient qualifies for an exemption.
Current information is available on the NHS Inform prescription charges and exemptions page.
Private prescriptions are not covered by the free NHS prescription arrangements. The amount payable will depend on the medicine prescribed and the pharmacy’s applicable charges.
How Long Will My Prescription Take?
The pharmacy will prepare your prescription as promptly as possible, but not every prescription can be completed within the same timeframe.
Dispensing may take longer when:
- The prescription contains several items
- A medicine needs to be ordered
- An item is temporarily unavailable
- The pharmacist needs to clarify something with the prescriber
- The medicine requires additional legal or clinical checks
- The pharmacy is handling an unusually high number of prescriptions
- The prescribed product requires special preparation
If you do not wish to wait, ask when the prescription is likely to be ready. Do not assume that a prescription has arrived or been completed until this has been confirmed by the pharmacy.
What If a Medicine Is Not Available?
Occasionally, a prescribed medicine may not be immediately available. The pharmacy may need to order it, provide the available items first or discuss an appropriate next step with you.
If part of your prescription remains outstanding, the team will explain:
- Which item has not been supplied
- Whether it has been ordered
- When it may become available
- Whether you need to return to the pharmacy
- Whether the prescriber needs to be contacted
Medicine shortages can affect more than one pharmacy. Another pharmacy may not necessarily have the item available, so speak to the team before travelling elsewhere or requesting a replacement prescription.
Can Someone Else Collect My Prescription?
Another person can often collect a prescription on your behalf. They should know your full name, address and date of birth and may be asked to confirm who they are collecting for.
Additional requirements can apply to certain medicines, including controlled drugs. The pharmacy may request identification or need to confirm that the person is authorised to collect the item.
If someone regularly handles your prescriptions, tell the pharmacy and ask what consent or identification arrangements are required. The team must protect your confidential medical and prescription information.
Understanding Your Medication
Ask the pharmacy team if you are unsure what a medicine is for, when to take it or how to use it. This is particularly important when:
- You are starting a medicine for the first time
- The strength or directions have changed
- You use an inhaler, injection, cream, drops or another device
- You are concerned about side effects
- You take non-prescription medicines or supplements
- You have difficulty opening packaging or swallowing a medicine
Do not stop prescribed treatment or change a dose unless an appropriately qualified healthcare professional has advised you to do so. Visit our Medicine Advice page for more information about asking the pharmacy team for help.
Repeat Prescription Collection
If you regularly request the same medication, our free NHS Repeat Prescription Collection service may make the process more convenient. After registration, your pharmacy can receive or collect authorised prescriptions from your GP practice and prepare the medicines for you.
You may still need to order each repeat from your GP practice, depending on the local arrangement. Registering with the pharmacy does not automatically mean that every medication will be requested without your involvement.
Learn more about registration and ordering on our Repeat Prescription Collection page.
Free Prescription Delivery
Most Right Medicine Pharmacy branches also offer free local NHS prescription delivery. Availability, delivery areas and schedules vary, so contact your chosen branch to check whether your address is covered.
Prescription delivery is intended for planned supplies and should not be relied upon for urgent medication. The pharmacy must receive and dispense a valid prescription before arranging delivery.
Visit our Prescription Delivery page for further details.
Serial Prescriptions for Long-Term Conditions
Some patients with long-term conditions may be suitable for a serial prescription through the NHS Medicines, Care and Review Service. This allows specified medicines to be dispensed at agreed intervals over an extended period.
Your GP decides whether a serial prescription is appropriate and which medicines it should include. You must register with a community pharmacy before using the service.
Read about eligibility and ongoing pharmacy support on our Medicines, Care and Review Service page.
What If My Treatment Has Changed?
Tell the pharmacy if your medication has changed following a GP appointment, hospital stay or specialist consultation. The pharmacy may not immediately have access to every update made elsewhere.
Check your medicines when collecting them and raise any unexpected change before taking a dose. Do not continue ordering an item that has been discontinued simply because it still appears on an older repeat list.
Return unwanted or expired medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not put them in household rubbish, flush them away or give them to another person. Side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
What If I Run Out of Medicine?
Order regular medication before your current supply runs out. If you do run out unexpectedly, contact your pharmacy or GP practice promptly and explain which medicine you need.
An emergency supply may sometimes be possible, but it depends on the medicine, your circumstances and the information available to the pharmacist. It cannot be guaranteed.
If you are unsure where to seek help, use the NHS Inform accessing medicines guide.
Use Your Local Right Medicine Pharmacy
Our pharmacy teams are here to dispense your prescriptions safely, answer questions about your treatment and connect you with collection, delivery or ongoing medicine support when appropriate.
Find your nearest Right Medicine Pharmacy or contact the team about your prescription.