POM medicaiton Legal Issues

Question 1

When is age a legal prescription equirement?

Answer 1

When patient is under 12, is date of birth acceptable?

Question 2

Does the signature of prescriber need to match the name of prescriber on a prescription?

Answer 2

No, a different may have signed the prescription. It is ok to dispense.

Question 3

Is the name of prescriber a legal requirement on prescription?

Answer 3

No, only their particulars - e.g. number for cost centre.

Question 4

What is the appropriate date for a NHS prescription?

Answer 4

Either the signed date or the indicated start date, which ever is later.

Question 5

What is the appropriate date for private prescription?

Answer 5

The date it was signed.

Question 6

What is EPS?

Answer 6

Electronic prescription (service)

Question 7

How many times can a repeatable private prescription be used if no number of repeats is stated?

Answer 7

One repeat unless it is an oral contraceptive (repeated 5 times).

Question 8

How long can a private repeat prescription be used?

Answer 8

For the repeats there is no time limit, but for intial dispening - usual expiry dates apply.

Question 9

Can a patient take a repeat private prescription to another pharmacy once initial dispensing has occured?

Answer 9

Yes as long as you write the pharmacy name and date of supply for the initial dispening on the prescription.

(Remember private items are paid for up front.)

Question 10

Can you dispense from a photocopy/ carbon copy of an NHS prescription?

Answer 10

Yes if it signed in ink

Question 11

Are the channel Islands part of the UK? Can dispense their prescriptions?

Answer 11

Not part of UK, can dispense items with normal requires but not CD2,3.

Question 12

What prescriptions are used in prison? Can you use NHS repeat dispening there?

Answer 12

Custom NHS prison Rx used for regular use. Fp10 are sometimes issued for urgent use - therefore no NHS repeat dispening.

Question 13

How long are owings valid for (CD and non-CD)?

Answer 13

Non CD and CD 5 = 6 months
CD 2’3’4 = 28 days

Question 14

How long does a private prescription need to be kept (not CD2,3)? How long does the private PoM register need to be kept?

Answer 14

Both 2 years from last dispensed item.

Question 15

Which 2 types of private prescriptions do not need to be entered into the Pom register?

Answer 15

Oral contraceptives and CD 2 (they have CD 2 register).

Question 16

When are fp10s used for prisoners? What do they have to pay?

Answer 16

They can’t be used while the patient is inside prison but when leaving. With the prison address on prescription and HMP (her majesties prison), they are exempt fro a prescription charge.

Question 17

Can you legal dispense from a Faxes prescription? What are the alternatives in the emergency?

Answer 17

No. Emergency supply

Question 18

What can a dentist prescribe private and on NHS?

Answer 18

Private - anything
NHS - dentist formulary in BNF/Trug tariff.

Question 19

What are EEA prescriptions?

Answer 19

Prescriptions from many countries in Europe (list is in MEP) which are recognised as legally valid - even if in foreign language.

• European economic area

Question 20

CNA you make emergency supply for EEA patients?

Answer 20

Yes - EEA prescriptions are recognised as legally valid.

Question 21

What would you do if EEA patient requires CD1,23 item?

Answer 21

Refer to a UK prescriber.

Question 22

Can phenobarbital be given as emergency supply to EEA patients?

Answer 22

No.

Question 23

Who can dispense military prescriptions?

Answer 23

Pharmacy with a MOD (Ministry do defence contract).