Presciptions: Is there a legal limit to the number of items which can be written on a GP10 or CPUS form?I know electronic scripts can only have three items but I am not sure about handwritten scripts?


It is good practice to write a maximum of THREE items on a single form, however this is not a legal or contractual obligation.

If more than three items are prescribed on a handwritten form, the following issues may arise:

  • Writing is condensed, making it harder to read = patient safety issue
  • As the general expectation is for no more than three items, a fourth (or fifth!) item may be missed in the dispensing process or at PSD
  • Space for proper endorsing is limited