12-Month Prescriptions – What You Need to Know
From 1 February, some patients with stable long‑term health conditions may be able to receive prescriptions lasting up to 12 months.
Please note – not everyone will be eligible. Your doctor will decide what is safe based on your health, medications, and monitoring needs.
Most people will stay on 3‑month prescriptions, others may move to 6- or 12‑month options.
Your Annual Check‑Up
To receive a 12‑month prescription, you must have an annual in‑person review with a doctor who knows you. This visit will focus only on your long‑term health conditions and medicines. Any required blood tests should be done beforehand.
Pharmacy
Pharmacies can still only dispense up to 3 months at a time (6 months for the oral contraceptive pill). All repeats must be collected from the same pharmacy.
There are no changes for controlled medicines like codeine, tramadol, morphine, zopiclone, benzodiazepines, or ADHD stimulant medicines.
Who Cannot Have a 12‑Month Prescription?
• People with unstable medical conditions
• Anyone whose medicine or dose has changed in the past 6 months
• Those needing monitoring in the next 12 months (blood tests, ECGs, blood pressure checks)
• Patients with reduced kidney function
• Pregnant patients or those on medicines unsafe in pregnancy
• People under 18 or over 65 (exceptions may apply)
• People who struggle to take their medicines regularly
Medicines That Need Closer Monitoring
• Blood pressure medicines
• Heart rhythm medicines (e.g., amiodarone, digoxin)
• Diabetes medicines
• Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin)
• Epilepsy medicines
• Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers
• Anti‑inflammatories (e.g., ibuprofen)
• Acne medicines such as isotretinoin or doxycycline