Signing and authorising a prescription
GetClinic uses an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) to authorise prescriptions. This is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature under UK eIDAS regulations.
What is AES?
An Advanced Electronic Signature links the signature uniquely to the signatory and detects any subsequent changes. GetClinic records:
- Your verified login identity (name and email)
- Date and time of authorisation (UTC)
- IP address of the signing device
- The prescription reference number
All of this is stored immutably in the audit log and cannot be altered after signing.
How to sign a prescription
- Open any prescription with status PENDING
- Click Sign / Authorise
- Review the AES declaration — it lists exactly what will be recorded
- Read the legal declaration (clinical appropriateness, prescriber authority, full responsibility)
- Click Confirm & Authorise
After signing
- Prescription status changes to SIGNED
- A unique dispense token and QR code are generated
- If a pharmacy connection is configured, the prescription is automatically dispatched
Sign during creation (PIN method)
You can also sign directly when creating a prescription by entering your 6-digit prescriber PIN. This is a faster workflow for high-volume prescribing.
⚠️ Important: Only the prescriber who created the prescription can sign it. Clinic admins cannot sign on behalf of a prescriber.