How to Change Your Pharmacy on the NHS App

You can change the pharmacy your prescriptions go to in a few taps. Here are the steps, plus the reasons you might not be able to and how to fix them.

Updated · 5 min read

Illustration of a phone showing a list of local pharmacies with one selected

To change your pharmacy on the NHS App, select Prescriptions, then Your chosen pharmacy, then Change your chosen pharmacy, and follow the instructions. Your future prescriptions will be sent electronically to the new pharmacy. Any prescriptions already requested may still go to your old one, so check before you switch.

What a chosen pharmacy is

When your GP surgery issues a prescription, it can be sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. This is called choosing a pharmacy, and you may also see it called nominating a pharmacy.

According to the NHS App help pages, once you have chosen a pharmacy:

  • you no longer need to collect paper prescriptions from your GP surgery
  • your chosen pharmacy receives your prescriptions until you change or remove it

Check which pharmacy you have now

  1. Select Prescriptions.
  2. Look under Your chosen pharmacy. If you have one, its name is shown. If you do not, you will see Choose a pharmacy instead.

Steps to change your chosen pharmacy

  1. Select Prescriptions.
  2. Select Your chosen pharmacy. You will see the name and details of your current pharmacy.
  3. Select Change your chosen pharmacy.
  4. Follow the instructions to search for and choose a new pharmacy.

You can do the same by logging in to your NHS account on the NHS website in a web browser.

Timing your switch

The NHS App help pages warn that if you change your chosen pharmacy, prescriptions you have already requested may still arrive at your old pharmacy.

To avoid a wasted trip:

  • check Your approved prescriptions to see where outstanding items are being prepared
  • if possible, collect any outstanding items from your old pharmacy before switching
  • if you have moved and cannot get to the old pharmacy, phone them to ask what they can do

It usually takes 3 to 5 working days for a chosen pharmacy to prepare a repeat prescription, so leave enough time before you run out.

When you cannot change your pharmacy in the app

You may not be able to view or change your chosen pharmacy if:

  • your GP surgery dispenses your medicines itself, which is common in some rural areas
  • you have more than one chosen pharmacy, for example a pharmacy for medicines and an appliance supplier for medical equipment
  • you are managing prescriptions for someone else through family and carer access

In these cases, contact your GP surgery and ask them to update it for you.

You also cannot remove a chosen pharmacy in the app. Only your GP surgery can remove it.

Local pharmacy or online pharmacy?

You can choose either.

A local high street pharmacy is chosen through the app. You collect your medicines in person, and some pharmacies also offer home delivery.

An online-only pharmacy posts your medicines to you. To use one, you must register with it through its own website or by contacting it directly, rather than through the NHS App. The NHS website has a list of online-only pharmacies registered to provide NHS services.

When comparing pharmacies, think about:

  • opening hours, including evenings and weekends
  • whether they deliver and how long delivery takes
  • how easy it is to get to if you need medicine urgently
  • whether they offer services you use, such as blood pressure checks or the Pharmacy First service for some common conditions

If you do not want a chosen pharmacy

You do not have to choose one. Without a chosen pharmacy, your approved prescription appears in the app as a barcode. You can take this barcode to any pharmacy and show it to the pharmacist. You may have to wait while they prepare it, and they may need to order stock.

This can suit people who travel a lot or who do not always use the same pharmacy.

Paying for your prescription

Changing pharmacy does not change what you pay. In England, the prescription charge for 2026/27 stays at £9.90 per item, and many people get prescriptions free, for example if they are under 16, over 60, pregnant or have certain medical conditions. If you pay for a lot of items, a prescription prepayment certificate may save you money.

Your pharmacy might ask to check your ID when you collect some medicines, so it is a good idea to take photo ID with you.

Collecting your medicines

When your prescription is ready, you may see "ready to collect" in the app under Your approved prescriptions. The NHS App help pages recommend taking photo ID when you collect, as pharmacies may check it for some medicines.

If only part of your prescription is ready, the app may show "part ready to collect". This usually means an item is out of stock. You can collect what is ready if you need it urgently, or wait for the rest.

Getting advice from your pharmacy

Your pharmacy can do more than dispense prescriptions. The NHS website suggests going to a pharmacy for advice and treatment for common illnesses, aches and pains that do not need a prescription, and you do not need an appointment. Choosing a pharmacy you can get to easily makes this simpler too.

Pharmacy questions people ask

How long does a pharmacy change take to work?

The change applies to prescriptions issued after you make it. Items already sent to the old pharmacy stay there unless they are returned.

Can I choose a pharmacy near work instead of home?

Yes. You can choose any pharmacy that offers NHS services, not just one near your home.

Can I change my child's pharmacy?

Not through family and carer access in the app. Ask your child's GP surgery.

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026:

This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.

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