If you use a private GP service ...

[challengina]

... and get a prescription, is the prescription charge higher than the NHS charge? How much?

(I can use Babylon for free via my husband's employee medical insurance, but I just want to know what to expect if I get a prescription).

It’s usually a dispensing fee which is pharmacy dependent plus the cost of the drug.

Phone around as it can be very varied but the dispensing fee is usually £5-20, and the drug cost might be pennies or very considerably more.

Often a private script can be cheaper than an nhs prescription charge.

The Babylon website says "The price of a private prescription varies depending on the type of medicine and the pharmacy you choose. Prices are set by the pharmacy. You can contact the pharmacy to find out the price of your prescription." ... so it sounds like it is variable, but I'd like some idea of what it's likely to be, e.g. is it the retail price of the medicine plus a nominal charge on top?

Thanks Asdf12345, sorry I cross posted with you, but that's helpful.

I have used Babylon and have been charged the NHS prescription price. I have found that not all pharmacies can access the Babylon prescriptions, there is a search tool on the Babylon website which shows which ones you can use. It's mainly Boots where I live.

I also think you can arrange for Babylon to send you the prescription in the post but can't remember how, I've asked for electronic ones.

Or depends on the drug. But yes, it can be hundred of pounds. I’ve never had a prescription there been cheaper ( I guess antibiotics might be).

It won't be loads. I recently got 10 days of penicillin (4 times a day so many tablets) and it was only £11-13.

I used boots, btw

Last time I used Babylon (only once when we were just coming out of covid and you just couldn’t see a GP for anything less than urgent for over a month) I didn’t pay when I picked the prescription up. I did wonder whether that was a mistake or if it’s included in my Bupa and I didn’t realise.

Bit frustrated that when I went to see my normal GP more recently, there is no sharing to the GP of what you’ve seen Babylon for.

There’s no such thing as the “retail price” of prescription-only medicines purchased privately. The price the NHS pays is just that - the price to the NHS.