You may have heard a lot about ordering your prescriptions online during the pandemic and wondered what it is all about. Zara Syed, Chief Pharmacist at Spirit Pharmacy, tells us more. Spirit Pharmacy is the only online pharmacy specialising in diabetes care.
Q: What is an online pharmacy?
It’s all about getting your NHS prescriptions and pharmacy products without the need for you to leave your home.
Online – or distance-selling – pharmacies are regulated, registered pharmacies that provide NHS pharmacy services ‘at a distance’, including via the internet, email or by phone. They are not to be confused with general online sellers of non-NHS prescription medicines.
Like community pharmacies, we are set up to receive prescriptions electronically from your GP. Any registered pharmacy can dispense your NHS prescription medicines. All you have to do is nominate which pharmacy you’d prefer to use.
At Spirit Pharmacy, we are proud to work with over 9,300 GP practices in England. Once we are your nominated pharmacy, your doctor will send us your prescriptions electronically, so it’s all secure and private. We’ll dispense your NHS prescriptions, post them to you free of charge and keep you updated with the progress of your order too. If you pay for your prescriptions, we will contact you to arrange payment. If you are exempt from prescription charges, you can add your exemption details via our website, or you can give us a call.
Q: Can people call you?
Our pharmacists are specially trained in diabetes to be able to give you advice and support. If your prescription has changed or you want to ask a pharmacist questions about your medicines, you can call us. Spirit Pharmacy gives you the best of both worlds. You can order online at, or you can phone our friendly pharmacists for advice and information, to talk to you, answer your questions and put your mind at ease Monday-Friday 9am-5pm on 0116-464-5558.
Q: What services do you provide?
Online pharmacies provide the same dispensing services and advice you would expect from your local community pharmacy, or dispensing doctor, with the convenience of secure repeat prescription ordering. We also offer fast, free delivery. Specifically to do with diabetes, we offer advice and support from pharmacists with a special interest in diabetes, access to free online diabetes education, reviews of your medications and a a friendly team at the end of the phone, if you need us!
Q: Is it difficult to set up?
Many people are surprised to find how easy it is to start using an online pharmacy. It only takes a few minutes to complete the online form, or you can use our app to register with Spirit Pharmacy ,or phone us and we’ll do it for you. Then take over and ask your doctor for your prescription details and remind you when it’s time to order your medicines. That’s all there is to it!
Q: How long does it take for medicines to arrive?
Many people think they’ll have to wait much longer to get their medicines from an online pharmacy, but that’s not true. Spirit Pharmacy will remind you when to order your medication, so there is plenty of time to ask your GP to authorise your prescription and send it to us electronically, dispense your medication safely and efficiently and post your medicines and for you to take delivery of it. We aim to dispense and dispatch your medication on the same day we receive your prescriptions and use secure, tracked 24- and 48-hour delivery services.
Q: Can medicines get lost in the post?
It is unlikely that your medicines will get lost in the post because we use a trackable delivery service. You can choose what delivery address to use – some people prefer to get items delivered to their place of work (which is why we always use plain and discreet packaging). Or, you can arrange to collect them from your local post office. You can also let us know if you prefer to have your medicines delivered on a particular day in the week, and if you aren’t at home when we deliver, we will arrange re-delivery for you.
Q: What about delivering insulin?
If your medicines require refridgeration, as insulin does, we’ve got that covered too as we use special multi-award-winning insulated packaging that exceeds guidelines for refrigerated pharmaceutical products. Be assured your medication is safely transported. The packaging uses sustainable, compostable, recyclable or recycled materials.
