True cost of NHS repeat prescriptions to ordinary Brits - major new report

True cost of NHS repeat prescriptions to ordinary Brits - major new report The new report out today, Tuesday, October 13, highlights the impact on ordinary people An alert has been raised over the way most Brits have to get repeat prescriptions across the UK. The NHS currently spends approximately £9 billion every year on repeat prescriptions, with £1.5bn set aside for diabetes treatments alone, according to a new report released today. Yet this is dwarfed by an estimated £11.5 billion yearly economic cost to patients who must collect repeat prescriptions in person. Vast numbers of people are still being forced to spend money on travel or take time off work just to pick them up. Despite considerable efforts to digitalise the system, the majority of patients still need to turn up in person - with many compelled to make additional trips because their prescriptions aren't ready on time. Countless others frequently have to abandon a visit altogether due to lengthy queues. The findings have been published today in a new report by Pharmacy2U. It warns that the current system is placing a mounting financial strain on the NHS while heaping further pressure onto already overstretched GPs and pharmacies. The report reveals that patients on repeat prescriptions spend an average of 1 hour and 36 minutes each month collecting them - the equivalent of two-and-a-half working days per year. People also spend an average of £6.50 per month on related travel costs, amounting to £78 annually, reports Wales Online. Nationally, this represents a total economic cost of £11.5 billion. Over the past 12 months, more than half (53%) of those managing a repeat prescription have had to make a second pharmacy visit because their prescription wasn't ready, while a quarter (24%) left without collecting medication due to lengthy queues. One in three (34%) have not received a prescription because of pharmacy or GP mix-ups, while one in six were forced to pay for an emergency supply of medication as their prescription wasn't available at their pharmacy. The Repeat Prescription Report has been written by two health experts from Imperial College London, Professor of Practice in Primary Care Waseem Jerjes and Primary Care Research Manager Dr Austen El-Osta. It analyses the prescribing pressures confronting the NHS. It also underlines how developments in digital healthcare have not yet fully resulted in a more seamless experience for patients on repeat medication. The report shows that around half (47%) of the population are on at least one repeat prescription, with routine diabetes treatments accounting for the single largest medication cost for the NHS at £1.5bn per year. This is roughly double the figure recorded in 2017 – when the previous report was published – with the majority of treatments dispensed as repeat items. Over-55s represent three in every four items prescribed on the NHS (76%), with patients on repeat prescriptions typically remaining on medication for their longest-standing condition for seven years. With the number of people in the UK aged 85 and over projected to double by 2049, the report highlights the increasing complexity of care requirements and the need for improved coordination between primary care services, including GPs, hospitals, carers, and both community and online pharmacies. Professor Waseem Jerjes, who co-authored the report, said: "Much has changed since the last Repeat Prescription Report in 2017, but the UK's prescribing system is still in transition. Alongside the widespread adoption of the NHS App, the age of GPs writing out paper prescriptions is over, with 97% of prescription orders sent directly to a patient's chosen pharmacy using the Electronic Prescription Service. However, as this year's report shows, the process of getting medicines into people's hands has not shifted as quickly." Dr Austen El Osta added: "Repeat prescribing offers an important opportunity to check in with patients, as it is often the most regular contact they have with the health system. However, healthcare needs aren't a one-size-fits-all, and that contact must be tailored to the individual. Online pharmacies are well suited for planned repeat supply, reminders, tracking, delivery, while community pharmacies remain important for urgent medicines, physical assessment and vaccination. The goal here is making sure people are aware of, and can access, whichever option suits them best." NHS repeat prescriptions in UK and the impact on patients Beyond the effects on the health service, the report explores the experiences of patients managing repeat medication and how the NHS's transition from analogue to digital services could influence the future of prescribing. Seven in 10 adults managing repeat prescriptions now rely on digital tools to submit their orders, with the NHS App emerging as the most popular method, regularly used by more than a quarter (28%) of patients. While usage continues to rise, with a record 7.6 million patients requesting repeat prescriptions through the app in July, two in three prescription managers (66%) still collect medicines in person at a community pharmacy, which can impose a considerable time burden. Phil Day, Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, said: "The figures show a growing cost not only to patients, but to the NHS itself. As the population ages and more people manage multiple long-term conditions, the pressure on GP practices and pharmacies to process, track and dispense repeat medication is only going to increase. By increasing awareness of options available, patients and the health service can streamline the process, improve care and protect people's precious time." The challenges of collecting medicines can be made worse for those living with health conditions. Among those managing ADHD or related conditions, approximately half (47%) report that difficulties picking up medication have caused them stress over the past year, while 57% of arthritis sufferers have been forced to make several trips to collect a prescription. A quarter of people (26%) managing their mental health say they struggle to remember to order and collect, while one in six patients (17%) report experiencing health problems as a result of being unable to obtain their prescription on time. Despite the widespread use of the NHS App, awareness of digital services for delivering prescribed medication remains surprisingly low. One in four adults (25%) are unaware that NHS prescriptions can be ordered through online pharmacies, while 45% wrongly believe that delivery comes at an extra cost. As part of its 10-year strategy, the NHS is driving towards a digital future. This includes the Single Patient Record, currently making its way through parliament as part of the Health Bill, which aims to bring together health and social care data within the NHS App by 2028. More than half of adults (57%) feel that having a comprehensive digital record of their prescription history would give them greater control over their health, while 52% would prefer to order and arrange delivery of repeat medication entirely through an app. The report sets out five key recommendations for the future of prescribing: - Ensure patients can see when their prescription request has been made with regular updates in the process through to delivery - Increase awareness of nominated pharmacies, where patients choose the online or community their prescriptions are sent to, and making switching simpler - Design prescription reminder and support systems for people whose health or socioeconomic conditions mean they are most likely to run out of medication - Use the regular contact of repeat prescribing for prevention, including medicine monitoring, vaccination reminders and tests such as blood pressure checks - Enable a ‘bricks-and-clicks’ network where online and community pharmacies can refer patients to each other and share information to improve health outcomes As part of the push towards greater transparency and information sharing, Pharmacy2U has introduced NHS login, meaning patients can now use the same credentials they use to access the NHS App to register and manage their prescriptions through Pharmacy2U. This means patients only need to remember a single set of login details and can manage the ordering and delivery of repeat prescription items in a straightforward and secure manner. Read the Repeat Prescription Report 2026 here.