Asking Your GP Practice to Add What Your Medicine Is For

What should I ask for?

A clinical indication on each repeat prescription: three or four words saying what the medicine is for, such as “to lower blood pressure” or “to prevent gout”. The aim is for the reason to appear on your medicine labels. For why this can help, see knowing what each medicine is for.

What could I say or write?

Use whichever way you usually contact the practice. You could copy this:

“Could you please add a few words to each of my repeat prescriptions saying what the medicine is for, such as ‘to lower blood pressure’, so that it can go on the labels? The General Medical Council’s prescribing guidance says doctors should consider including clinical indications on prescriptions (paragraph 13). Please check with me first if you think any of them may be sensitive. Thank you.”

Who decides the wording?

The prescriber. The site recommends that prescribers pick phrases from lists, such as the Sample Directory, and says the prescriber should remain medicolegally responsible for them (FAQ 7).

If a phrase seems wrong or unclear to you, tell the practice. At the pilot practice, two patients asked for their wording to be changed in three years (FAQ 14).

What if some of my medicines are private?

Say so. The site’s FAQs say patients should be asked before an indication that may be sensitive is added. If you would rather not have the reason shown, the practice can note your preference on the repeat prescription instead (FAQ 4).

Medicine packets left where others can see them may show the indication, so you may want to keep them out of sight.

What if my practice has not done this before?

You could mention this website. Its FAQs explain how a practice can get started, and the GMC’s view is set out on what the GMC says.

If you have questions about your medicines, ask your GP practice or pharmacist.