online pharmacy
As part of the Frosts Pharmacy Group, a family run business established in 1925 by John Frost and now run by his grandson Stuart Gale, we are a fully registered UK pharmacy and adhere to the standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council. We run successful high street pharmacies in Banbury and Oxford, in the UK, as well as our online chemist services.
What is the cheapest pharmacy for private prescriptions UK?
Monday, March 25, 2024
If you want a quick, easy and well-priced private doctor prescription but don’t know where to get it, read on…
NHS prescriptions
NHS prescription items priced in the UK are currently charged at £9.65 for the costs of the medication per item. To get a repeat prescription with a pre-payment certificate the NHS fee is £31.25 for 3 months or £111.60 for 12 months. *
These days it is becoming more common for people to want a private online prescription, this takes pressure from the NHS and with the rise of online pharmacy popularity, this is often the most convenient way for people to obtain medicines. But is it the cheapest?
How much are private prescriptions?
The price of private prescriptions can vary. Unlike NHS prescriptions that the government will subsidise, individual pharmacies can set their own private prescription cost.
When deciding on the cost, pharmacies often consider where the medicines are sourced, the amount required, and often the time it takes to produce the prescription and the resources needed to do so. This is why the cost will vary depending on the pharmacy.
For example, Dr Fox, an online pharmacy, charges £1 for every £10 you spend up to their maximum prescription charge of £4. Whereas, at Oxford Online Pharmacy a private prescription is free of charge. 1
Meanwhile, some pharmacies may charge for a doctor consultation as well or instead of a fee for the online prescription, this will also be at the discrepancy on the pharmacy.
At Bupa, they charge a consultation fee, which can range from £79 - £250 depending on the length of time of the appointment. The price of a private prescription varies depending on the type of medicine and the pharmacy you choose. So, you may be wondering how the types of medicines influence the price of a prescription, read on. 2
Branded vs Generic medicines
At pharmacies, there is usually the option to choose a branded or generic medicine. Branded medication comes with a slightly higher price tag compared to the generic; this is often the case with many branded products, not just medicines.
An example is at Oxford Online Pharmacy, if you are looking for Cialis for erectile dysfunction, you also have the option to choose the generic version called Tadalafil, they both contain the same active ingredients and work in the same way.
The price of branded Cialis 10mg 4 tablets cost £37.98, while the generic Tadalafil 10mg 4 tablets only cost £8.95. If you get Tadalafil tablets from Oxford Online Pharmacy, this is the only price you will pay as the issuing prescription charge is free, making it a cheaper option to save money than getting it on the NHS for £9.65 per item.
Read our dedicated article on branded vs generic medicines for more information.
Private pharmacies vs NHS pharmacies
While many private pharmacies also offer NHS services, they tend to stock medicines which are not available through an NHS GP. Such as certain weight loss injections, erectile dysfunction medicines and hair loss treatments that are privately prescribed.
You can see the range of products available through our pharmacy online here.
Why choose an online pharmacy UK?
Aside from the points above, legit online pharmacies hold many more benefits to patients, such as:
Privacy
Ordering medicines online through an online consultation means there is no need for a face-to-face appointment, this is especially useful if you would like to buy medicines for an embarrassing condition.
Fast delivery to your door
You don’t even need to leave the house to get your private medical prescription online, at Oxford Online Pharmacy the whole order process is done online and then the medicines are delivered straight to your door or to the address of your choosing.
Discreet packaging
All orders from Oxford Online Pharmacy arrive in a discreet plain brown box, so no one will know what you have ordered.
Free advice
You have access to dedicated articles on many different conditions. Medical healthcare professionals write these blogs and can offer advice on managing and treating your conditions.
A team of registered doctors and pharmacists
A legit online pharmacy like Oxford Online Pharmacy has a team of trained professionals registered by the GMC and GPhC who are on hand to help you make the safest and most effective decision to treat your condition. The medical professionals are available to contact by phone or email and will respond in a timely and sensitive manner.
Find out more
These are just a few of the many benefits online pharmacies can provide, you can find more information on the benefits of an online pharmacy in our dedicated article here.
What is the cheapest pharmacy for private prescriptions?
To conclude, ordering from an online pharmacy in England can be more convenient and cost-effective, with often no private prescription cost and a large range of available generic medicines.
To find the cheapest pharmacy, many people will compare online prices, whether they have a price match promise and what discounts they offer.
The good news is we have already done the work for you, taking the most popular online pharmacies we have compared them in this article to determine which is the best online pharmacy UK.
References
- Dr Fox - Medicine prices
- Bupa - GP Services
*All prices are as of 22.03.24 and are subject to change.
Reviewed on 27 March 2024
