The United Kingdom has specific rules related to medical services. The governing body has made specific provisions for the benefits of the citizens according to which they have divided the medical facilities into two categories. First, they deduct a small amount from the salary of the people and deposit it into the NHS (National Health Service) account. Any person who is registered with the NHS is entitled to receive any medicine free of cost after retirement. However, the policy followed by the state government is not clear to all. There are provisions that restrict or limit the dispensing of medicine. Second, there are Private Medical Services available for individuals in which the fees of the practitioner, the cost of medicine and the service charges of the pharmacy have to be borne by the recipient. In simple terms, goods that are not available under the provision of NHS have to be procured through private prescriptions.

Private prescriptions can be written by a dentist or a GP to help patients in purchasing prescribed medicines necessary for his or her care. If the person is meeting a doctor at other places or a clinic, the doctor will charge for the prescription. In the same way, any private doctor is not authorized to write an NHS prescription. The only obligation is that the practitioner has to be registered with the requisite authority in the United Kingdom. Certain codes are required to be followed by the doctors even though they are providing prescriptions on behalf of the NHS or a private practitioner. Usually, there are consultation charges and additional fees. Sometimes, individuals have to pay a fee just for writing the prescription.

A pharmacist will also charge the individual for dispensing the medications. Before dispensing, the store will find out whether the private prescriptions are written on NHS prescription paper and the NHS is not paying for the medicines and service charge. It is the right of the doctor to choose any format to write the medication on unless the prescribed medication is valid only under a special format. An authorized practitioner cannot amend the prescription in any way. In addition, after brief examination, it is possible that the prescriber will feel the medication will need to be taken for a specific period. If so, the validity of the prescription is six months. If the individual is receiving the repeated prescription for the first time, then it must be dispensed within six months from the date of writing.

There are special provisions made for the writing and dispensing of controlled drugs. This is because certain restricted medication is not easily available and requires lots of scrutiny. Not only humans, even animals require repeat prescriptions that have to be written by qualified and registered veterinary practitioners.

Hence, before receiving private prescriptions, find out the cost by consulting the doctor. Paying for medications and the charges levied by the pharmacy are to be paid by the person, as the NHS does not pay them.