In one paragraph
A community pharmacist can give you a medicine you are already prescribed, without a prescription, when there is a genuine immediate need. The power comes from regulation 225 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. It is a professional decision with legal limits on quantity, and it does not apply to most controlled drugs. It is not a right you can insist on — but if you turn up prepared, it usually works.
The three things the pharmacist must be satisfied of
These are the legal conditions, and every one of them has to be met.
- Immediate need, and no time to get a prescription. There must be an immediate need for the medicine and it must be impracticable in the circumstances to obtain a prescription without undue delay. "I run out on Thursday" is not the same as "my next dose is tonight".
- You have been prescribed it before. Treatment with that medicine must have been prescribed for you on a previous occasion by a relevant prescriber. This is why evidence matters so much.
- The dose can be established. The pharmacist must be satisfied as to the dose that is appropriate for you to take.
They must also make a record of the supply, and label the medicine with the words "Emergency Supply" along with the date, the medicine, the quantity, your name and the pharmacy's details.
What to take with you
Everything here helps the pharmacist meet those conditions faster. You do not need all of it, but the more you have the better.
- The medicine box or the dispensing label from the last supply — this alone often settles conditions two and three.
- Your repeat prescription slip, or your medicines list in the NHS App.
- The exact name, strength, formulation and dose. "Estradot 75" and "Estradot 50" are different products.
- Your GP surgery or prescriber's details.
- Anything relevant about allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or recent changes to your medicines.
- Proof of identity if asked.
Say clearly when your next dose is due and what happens if you miss it. That is the sentence that establishes immediate need.
How much you can be given
| Medicine | Most a pharmacist can supply in an emergency |
|---|---|
| Most prescription-only medicines | Up to 30 days' treatment |
| Controlled drugs in Schedule 4 or 5 | Up to 5 days' treatment |
| Controlled drugs in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 | Not permitted at your request at all — the single exception is phenobarbital for epilepsy |
| Insulin, a cream or ointment, or an inhaler for asthma | The smallest pack the pharmacist has available |
| An oral contraceptive | Enough for a full treatment cycle |
| An antibiotic in liquid form for oral use | The smallest quantity that gives a full course |
The 30 days is a maximum, not a target. A pharmacist may well give you enough to bridge the gap until your surgery opens rather than a full month, which is a reasonable and safe thing to do.
The medicines a pharmacist cannot supply this way
Regulation 225 does not permit an emergency supply, at your request, of a controlled drug in Schedule 1, 2 or 3. The single exception is phenobarbital, which may be supplied for the treatment of epilepsy.
In practice that rules out ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, strong opioids such as morphine and oxycodone, tramadol, buprenorphine, temazepam and midazolam, and — a common surprise — pregabalin and gabapentin, which were reclassified as Schedule 3 controlled drugs in April 2019. If this is your medicine, going to a pharmacy will not solve it. Read what to do instead.
What it costs
In England, an emergency supply you request yourself is a supply under regulation 225 rather than an NHS prescription. The pharmacy decides what to charge, and practice varies — some charge the cost of the medicine, some a small fee, some nothing. Ask the price before they dispense.
If instead NHS 111 refers you to a pharmacy for an NHS urgent supply, it is an NHS supply and the usual rules apply: £9.90 per item in England, free if you are exempt or hold a prepayment certificate. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each of which also runs its own NHS-funded emergency supply arrangement.
That difference is the single best argument for going through 111 first when you are not in a rush of minutes — the referral costs you nothing and may make the supply cheaper.
If the pharmacist says no
Ask which of these it is, then act on the answer.
| Reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| It is a Schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug | You need a prescriber. Contact NHS 111, your out-of-hours GP service or your specialist. Nothing you say will change the legal position. |
| They cannot confirm the medicine was prescribed for you | Go to the pharmacy you normally use, or come back with the box, the label, the repeat slip or your NHS App record. |
| They are not satisfied the need is immediate | Be specific: the next dose is due at a stated time, and this is what happens if it is missed. |
| They cannot establish the right dose | Ask whether they can contact your surgery or the out-of-hours service to confirm it. |
| They have no stock | A different problem entirely. Ask if they can order it, and use the stock checker to build a call list. |
A pharmacist who cannot supply should still tell you what to do next. If they do not offer, ask: "if you can't supply it, what's the fastest route for me tonight?"
Questions people ask
What are the rules for a pharmacist emergency supply?
Under regulation 225 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a pharmacist may supply a prescription-only medicine at your request only if satisfied that there is an immediate need and it is impracticable to obtain a prescription without undue delay, that the medicine has previously been prescribed for you by a relevant prescriber, and that they can establish the appropriate dose. They must record the supply and label it "Emergency Supply".
How many days of medicine can a pharmacist give in an emergency?
Up to 30 days' treatment for most prescription-only medicines, and up to 5 days for a controlled drug in Schedule 4 or 5. Exceptions: insulin, an ointment or cream, and an asthma inhaler are supplied as the smallest available pack; an oral contraceptive as a full treatment cycle; an oral liquid antibiotic as the smallest quantity that provides a full course.
Can a pharmacist refuse an emergency supply?
Yes. It is a professional judgement, not an entitlement. A pharmacist must refuse if the law does not permit it — for example a Schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug — and may refuse if they cannot confirm what you have been prescribed, cannot establish the right dose, or are not satisfied the need is immediate. Ask which reason applies, because it determines where you go next.
Do I need to go to my usual pharmacy?
No, but it helps. A pharmacy that has dispensed for you before holds a record, which makes it far easier for the pharmacist to satisfy themselves that the medicine has been prescribed for you and at what dose. If you go somewhere new, bring the box, the dispensing label, your repeat slip or your NHS App medicines record.
Can a pharmacist do an emergency supply if a doctor asks?
Yes — that is a separate provision, an emergency supply at the request of a prescriber, and it is not limited in the same way as a request from a patient. If your prescriber is contactable, asking them to speak to the pharmacy is often the fastest route, particularly for a medicine that cannot be supplied at your own request.
Is an emergency supply free?
In England, an emergency supply you request yourself is not an NHS prescription, so the pharmacy sets its own charge — ask before they dispense. If NHS 111 refers you for an NHS urgent supply, standard NHS charges and exemptions apply. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Related pages
Emergency supply: the full guide
Both routes, the quantity limits, the costs and the out-of-hours plan.
Can NHS 111 prescribe?
What 111 can and cannot do about a prescription, and what it actually does when you say you have run out.
Out of hours, weekends and bank holidays
Where to go when your GP surgery is shut and the usual pharmacy is closed.
Controlled drugs, ADHD medicine and insulin
Why a pharmacy cannot hand over ADHD or opioid medicine, and the rules that do let them help with insulin.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The devolved emergency supply services and how they differ from England.
Medicine stock checker
National shortage status plus a call list of nearby pharmacies.
Track your medicine free
Get an email if your medicine enters or leaves a national shortage. Free, and alerts are rare — that is good news.
Track a medicine free →Written by the MediWatch editorial team and checked against the official sources above on 4 August 2026. This page is information, not medical advice. Always follow your pharmacist, GP, specialist, NHS 111 or urgent-care advice for your own medicine. Report an accuracy issue.
This page was written by the MediWatch editorial team and checked for accuracy against NHS, NHSBSA and legislation.gov.uk guidance. Shortage information comes from official DHSC medicine supply notifications and NHS England Serious Shortage Protocols. See our editorial policy and data sources.