Welcome to Clinical Indications
Clinical indications are a combination of three or four words that can be used on a prescription to describe the effect on the patient of a particular drug.
This site exists to promote the use of clinical indications with the goal of seeing them widely used.
Enhancing Care
Why each drug is prescribed
Increasing Safety
Essential safety information
Empowering Patients
A reason for every medicine
Clinical indications are three or four words added to a prescription to say what the medicine is for, such as atenolol “to prevent migraine”. They help patients, carers and health staff understand each medicine and can carry key safety messages, and the GMC’s prescribing guidance advises prescribers to consider including them.
Learn more
About
Clinical indication labelling is a simple and direct way to communicate with patients about their medicines.
FAQs
Answers to the most frequently asked questions, prepared by Dr Nigel Masters, a General Medical Practitioner.
Directory
Examples of clinical indications, compiled from the repeat prescriptions of a working surgery.
Demonstration
See how clinical indications might work from the point of view of a prescription writer.
The evidence
so far
3–4
Words added to a prescription
640
Million prescriptions given out each year (2004)
93%
Average statin compliance in the practice study
100%
Repeat scripts labelled in the August 2004 audit
How it works
Indication labelling is now possible due to the computer infrastructure that already exists and uses the existing computerised prescription pad. Patients do not need to have any computer knowledge or IT skills to access the benefits of this communication.
A few extra words are simply added to their prescription to enhance communication.
The reason for the drug is explained, for example Atenolol ‘to prevent migraine’.
Many elderly people are on over ten different medications and it is easy for them to become confused about what each medicine is for.
Key safety messages can be added to the specific prescription.
They know why they are on specific medicine. “It enables me to be in control of my own health”.
Why use clinical indications
Clinical Indications allows all Healthcare staff to understand why drugs are being prescribed. Thus the health team can reinforce prescribing indication and drug compliance.
Clinical Indications clarifies need for specific medication use and adds essential safety information. Drug prescribing indication is a valuable risk assessment tool as it helps the prescriber balance risk and benefit of the medication.
Clinical Indications provides simple explanations of the reason for each prescription. This benefits patients who are on numerous medications. Carers can quickly identify important drugs and reassure confused vulnerable patients.
Recent news
A 2026 Systematic Review of Indications on Electronic Prescriptions October 2026 - A systematic review published in March 2026 in the International Journal of Medical Informatics brings together the studies that have added indications to electronic… 
GMC Reaffirmed that Clinicians Should Consider Including Clinical Indications on Their Prescriptions August 2021 - In April 2021 the GMC reaffirmed that clinicians should consider including clinical indications on their prescriptions. Keeping up to date and prescribing safely. Related:… 
2019 Hospital Medicines Management United Kingdom April 2019 - Katherine Shemilt and others explored the impact of including clinical indications on inpatient prescriptions. Pharmacists thought this would be helpful and practical to implement… 
2015 Research in Primary Care in Quebec, Canada January 2015 - 2015 Research in Primary Care in Quebec, Canada using the Medical Office of the XXIst Century electronic health record that supports treatment indications and… 
Logic integrated Medical Assessment January 2014 - The LiMA (Logic integrated Medical Assessment) software program used in the work capability assessments by the Department of Work and Pensions uses a clinical… 
Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices. January 2013 - The General Medical Council in the UK releases its guidance Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices. This states on paragraph 10… 
General Medical Council guidance
The General Medical Council’s prescribing guidance for doctors, Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices (in effect since April 2021), advises: “As well, you should consider including clinical indications on your prescriptions.” It is paragraph 13, in the section Keeping up to date and ensuring safe prescribing, and the guidance links to this website.
The GMC’s 2013 prescribing guidance gave the same advice.
Read what the guidance says, in full.
“As well, you should consider including clinical indications on your prescriptions.”
GMC · Keeping up to date and ensuring safe prescribing, paragraph 13
Quotes
“We immediately recognised this as an innovative idea that would have a far-reaching impact on patients and carers.”
Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen
Vice-Chairman, BUPA Foundation · November 2005
“I think this is a fantastic idea: good for patients and good for other health professionals.”
Lucy Jenkins
NB Medical Education Courses · Spring 2006
“A common ingredient of great ideas is a simplicity that provokes the response ‘Now why didn’t I think of that’. And this is a great idea. Congratulations.”
Michael O’Donnell
Retired GP and journeyman writer · October 2003
“These awards are a tribute to and in recognition of the enterprising nature of GPs. Initiatives such as the one pioneered by Dr Masters deliver real added value to patients. We would like to see his system used more widely across the UK.”
Dr Roger Neighbour
President, Royal College of General Practitioners · October 2004
“Innovation such as this must be applauded. With 640 million prescriptions given out each year even a small percentage of error means thousands of patients can be affected. With clearer information on prescriptions, the chances of mistakes happening will be greatly reduced.”
Dr Stephen Ladyman
Health Minister · October 2004
A combination of three or four words used on a prescription to describe the effect of the medicine on the patient, for example atenolol ‘to prevent migraine’. See what a clinical indication is, with more examples.
No. Indication labelling uses the existing computerised prescription pad, so patients do not need any computer knowledge or IT skills. A few extra words are simply added to their prescription.
They let all healthcare staff understand why a drug is being prescribed, add essential safety information, and give patients a simple explanation of the reason for each prescription. Carers can quickly identify important drugs.
Its prescribing guidance, in effect since April 2021, advises: “As well, you should consider including clinical indications on your prescriptions.” It is paragraph 13, and the guidance links to this website. Read what the guidance says.
See what a clinical indication looks like for common medicines.
Read what a clinical indication is, with examples, or search the Sample Directory for the wording used for several hundred commonly prescribed medicines.
Get in touch
If you have a question that is not adequately answered elsewhere on the site please contact us and we will do our best to answer it.
This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience for the following purposes: to enable basic functionality of the website, to provide a better experience on the website, to measure your interest in our products and services and to personalize marketing interactions, to deliver ads that are more relevant to you.
Contact Clinical Indications
Dr Nigel Masters, Highfield Surgery, Highfield Way, HAZLEMERE, High Wycombe, HP15 7UW
W: www.clinicalindications.co.uk
© Clinical Indications 2026. Sitemap · Privacy Policy
This site is designed and hosted by Independent Web Marketing
