FP10

An FP10 is a green NHS prescription form used in England for prescribing medication, private clinics use a FP10PCD form for medical cannabis.

An FP10 is the green paper form used by the NHS in England to fill out prescriptions.

FP10 forms are classified as controlled stationery because they can be accepted by pharmacies and if stolen or misused, could be used to obtain medicines illegally.

At a glance: FP10 prescription forms

What is an FP10?	An FP10 is the standard prescription form used by the NHS in England to authorise a pharmacy to dispense medication.
What colour is the FP10 form?	The FP10 form is green and is a controlled stationery product.
Who issues an FP10 form?	GPs, nurse independent prescribers, pharmacist independent prescribers, and supplementary prescribers working within the NHS.
Where is the FP10 form used?	The FP10 form is only used in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own forms.
Standard validity of an FP10 form	A standard FP10 form is valid for 6 months from the date of signing.
Controlled drug validity of an FP10 form	FP10 forms for a controlled drug are valid for 28 days after signing; this includes medical cannabis.
NHS charges per item	The current price for NHS patients is £9.90 per item.

What does the FP10 look like and who issues it?

The FP10 form is green and A5 sized. The front of the form will include the patient's details on the top left, the main blank area is where prescription items are written or printed. The prescriber’s signature and date are found near the bottom along with the practice details and prescriber code. Each form has a serial number printed on it that can be traced.

The FP10 form is controlled stationery managed by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and Primary Care Support England (PCSE).

PCSE handles ordering and distribution of the FP10 forms along with the range of serial numbers printed on them.

Loss or theft of FP10 forms are reported to the PCSE so that the serial range can be circulated to pharmacies as an invalid prescription range.

The NHSBSA receives dispensed FP10 forms from pharmacies each month to reimburse the pharmacy for the costs of the medication and pay their fees.

The FP10 form can be issued by GPs and other doctors in primary care, as well as nurse independent prescribers, pharmacist independent prescribers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and paramedics working within their competence.

Many prescriptions in England are done without paper, using the Electronic Prescription Service instead. The prescriber will electronically sign the digital prescription, it then goes through the Spine (an IT system that connects health and care systems in England) which the pharmacy the patient has nominated will enter to dispense medication.

Types of FP10 forms

FP10	A green paper form used by GPs in the NHS in England to fill out prescriptions.
FP10SS	Can be used for two things: it can be used as a single-sheet version of the green form, designed to go through a laser printer rather than written by hand. The same stock can also be used as a prescription token. It doesn’t have a prescriber’s signature so is not a prescription; it is used as a receipt so pharmacies can find the electronic prescription.
FP10MDA	The FP10MDA form is blue in colour and used to give medication in instalments rather than all at once.
FP10HP	Forms used by hospital doctors prescribing for outpatients.
FP10D	A yellow form that is used by dentists to prescribe medication.
FP10PCD	Used for private prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs, like medical cannabis.

How long are FP10 forms valid and how are they dispensed?

Generally, FP10s are valid to be dispensed at a pharmacy for up to six months from the first date the prescriber signs the form.

However, for Schedule 2, 3, and 4 controlled drugs such as amphetamines for ADHD, morphine, or medical cannabis, the prescription is only valid for 28 days from the prescriber signing it off.

Once the prescription has passed its validity date, it cannot be used and a new prescription must be issued.

When a patient hands a prescription to a pharmacy, they must first complete the exemption declaration on the back of the form and sign it before the medicine is dispensed.

The form stays with the pharmacy, which is stamped and sent to the NHSBSA for reimbursement.

If an electronic prescription has been made, the patient can simply turn up to their nominated pharmacy and collect the prescription after filling out an exemption declaration.

FP10 charges and exemptions

In England, NHS patients pay a fixed prescription charge of £9.90 per item. This is a flat fee and bears no relation to what the medication actually costs the NHS.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have abolished the charges, so it only applies to England but there are some exemptions to paying.

Automatic exemption to prescription costs in England, no certificate needed:

Anyone aged 60 or over
Children under 16
16 to 18 year olds in full-time education
Patients who are pregnant, or who have had a baby in the previous 12 months (needs a maternity exemption certificate, MatEx)
Inpatients in hospital, and prescriptions dispensed at a hospital or by a GP for certain contraceptive or sexual health treatment

Exemption on medical grounds requires a medical exemption certificate. The qualifying list includes insulin-treated diabetes, physical disabilities that prevent the patient from leaving home unaided, and any cancer.

Patients eligible for income exemptions (such as those receiving benefits or on low incomes) can check their eligibility through the NHSBSA.

FP10 and medical cannabis

NHS prescriptions for cannabis-based prescription medicines on FP10 forms are rare and limited to just a few licensed situations such as rare forms of epilepsy, spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Sativex is an oral spray cannabis-based product for medicinal use that is licensed and can be prescribed by the NHS for muscle stiffness and spasticity in patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

However, private medical cannabis clinics like Releaf, who have a team of specialists registered with the GMC, have the legal authority to prescribe cannabis-based medicines for a wider variety of health conditions where deemed appropriate.

Most UK medical cannabis is prescribed privately by specialist clinics like Releaf and comes on a FP10PCD form, the stationery for private clinics is pink, unlike the NHS’ green form colour.

Because medical cannabis is a Schedule 2 controlled drug, prescriptions are valid for 28 days.

Patients who receive private medical cannabis prescriptions must pay for the full cost of the drug itself, a dispensing fee for the pharmacy, as well as consultation fees.

Private medical cannabis pricing can differ depending on the dosage, frequency and format, as each prescription is assessed individually by a specialist team of clinicians.

FP10 vs Private Prescriptions

Prescription types	Who funds it	What do patients pay	Which form is used	Where is it dispensed
NHS prescriptions	The NHS pays for prescription-only medications.	The NHS has a fixed rate of £9.90 per prescribed item, some people may be exempt from this charge.	The NHS prescribes on an FP10 form.	The prescription is sent to a registered pharmacy to be dispensed.
Private prescriptions	A private prescription is funded entirely by the patient.	Private prescriptions have no fixed charge; the patient pays for the cost of the drug, the pharmacy’s dispensing fee, and consultation costs.	Private prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs must be written on a physical paper form called FP10PCD.	The prescription is sent to a registered pharmacy to be dispensed.

Frequently asked questions about FP10s

What does FP10 prescription mean?

An FP10 prescription is the standard pharmaceutical form used by the NHS to prescribe medication.

How long is an FP10 valid for?

A standard FP10 form is valid for six months after being signed by the prescriber. An FP10 used for controlled drugs is valid for 28 days.

Who can prescribe on an FP10?

GPs, nurse independent prescribers, pharmacist independent prescribers, and supplementary prescribers working within the NHS can prescribe on FP10 forms.

How much does an FP10 prescription cost?

Each prescribed item on an FP10 form will cost an NHS patient £9.90, but there are exemptions for some. 1.30 billion NHS prescription items were dispensed in 2025/2026 in England, which cost £11.6 billion.

What are the requirements for an FP10 prescription?

An FP10 prescription must include the patient’s full name, address, and age if under 12, as well as the medication’s name, form, strength, quantity or duration of treatment, dose, and directions. The FP10 must also include the prescriber’s signature, date, name, address, and prescriber code.

What is an FP10PCD form?

An FP10PCD form is used by private clinics to prescribe Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs to patients. They are valid to dispense for 28 days after the prescriber has signed the form.

Can you get medical cannabis on an FP10?

Getting medical cannabis on an NHS FP10 prescription is rare and only done in limited scenarios such as rare forms of epilepsy, spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

To find out if you are eligible, try our free medical cannabis eligibility checker, it takes less than 30 seconds to fill in.

Our medical cannabis glossary can also help you learn more about terms you may associate with medical cannabis.

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