Understanding the Difference Between Hospital-Issued Prescriptions and GP Prescriptions

Not all prescriptions are issued in the same way. Some medicines are prescribed by your GP, while others need to be prescribed or started by a hospital specialist.

A GP prescription is usually issued by your local GP practice and can normally be taken to a community pharmacy. These are often used for everyday medicines or ongoing treatments managed by your GP.

A hospital-issued prescription is linked to care you are receiving through the hospital. These prescriptions may be given after an appointment, treatment, or review with a hospital specialist. Some medicines can only be started, monitored, or supplied through the hospital because they require specialist knowledge or closer clinical oversight.

At The Pharmacy Shop, we support patients with prescriptions issued through Stepping Hill Hospital and associated specialist services. If your hospital prescription is already held on file with us, you may be able to request your next supply through our prescription request form.

In some cases, your hospital specialist may start a medicine and your GP may continue it later under a shared care arrangement. This depends on the medicine, local guidance and your individual care plan.

If you are unsure whether your prescription is managed by the hospital or your GP, please speak to your hospital team, GP or The Pharmacy Shop for guidance.