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Repeatable prescription validity — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardPharmacy Law and EthicsRepeatable prescription validityGPhC CRA

A private repeatable prescription for a non-controlled medicine is signed on 1 January, states “repeat five times” and is first dispensed on 1 March. No interval is specified. Which statement is legally correct?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: BThe first supply is valid; the six-month limit governs first dispensing and later supplies follow the stated repeats

For an ordinary non-controlled repeatable prescription, the first dispensing must occur within six months of the appropriate date and subsequent supplies must follow the directions on the prescription. The two-occasion default applies only when the repeatable prescription does not state a number (with a separate oral-contraceptive rule). A pharmacist cannot add repeats. Controlled-drug validity rules must be considered separately.

Reference: Human Medicines Regulations 2012: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/pdfs/uksi_20121916_en.pdf