Private prescription
From Ganfyd
Applicable
A private prescription is usually printed on the right side of NHS prescription stationery - FP10... in general practice, or written on headed notepaper, although, in theory any piece of paper is legal except in the case of controlled drugs (there is a form for this rather like an FP10). It must bear the name of the prescriber, preferably with his or her GMC number, practice address and telephone number.
Some registered doctors may have an indirect limitation on their ability to issue private prescriptions as their GMC registration may be endorsed "may only legally practice in certain approved settings". F2 doctors or others with such endorsements need to be particularly careful as most such approved practice in the UK is NHS practice.
There are various complex rules about when an NHS doctor can prescribe a private prescription for an NHS patient: in general, if a prescription is required, and the drug is available on the NHS, then an NHS prescription may not be refused.[1] It is probably acceptable also to issue a private prescription - and this may help the patient if the cost of the treatment on a private prescription is less than the cost of an NHS prescription (as it may be for certain cheap items). A patient who would pay less is unlikely to complain, and replacing a private prescription one has previously issued with an NHS one is likely to be as much remedy as would be required in any other event. (Note that this advice should not be considered definitive.)
This issue is considered in more detail on the private practice page.
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