Emergency Supply

Question 1

Emergency Supply

Answer 1

In an emergency and under certain conditions a pharmacist can supply POMs to a patient without an Rx
By request of prescriber or the patient

Question 2

What are the two types of emergency supply?

Answer 2

• Prescriber
• Patient
• Different conditions apply to each type

Question 3

Who are prescribers that can request an emergency supply?

Answer 3

I. doctor

ii. dentist
iii. Supplementary Prescriber
iv. community practitioner nurse prescriber
v. independent prescriber
vi. EEA or Swiss health professional

Question 4

Emergency supply at prescribers request: Summary

Answer 4

1) Relevant prescriber
2) Emergency
3) Prescription within 72 hours
4) Directions - POM supplied in accordance with directions given by prescriber
5) Not for CDs, except phenobarbital
6) Record kept
7) Labelling

Question 5

Can CDs be supplied as an emergency supply?

Answer 5

• Schedule 1, 2 or 3 CDs cannot be supplied in an emergency
• Phenobarbital is the exception for the treatment of epilepsy.

Question 6

Who can request phenobarbital as an emergency supply?

Answer 6

• UK doctor
• dentist
• nurse
• pharmacist IP
• supplementary prescriber

in an emergency

Question 7

What must POM register have for emergency supply?

Answer 7

• Date POM supplied
• Name, strength, form, quantity
• Name/ address of patient
• Name/ address of prescriber
• Date on Rx (add later)
• Date Rx received (Add later)

Good practice
- NHS paid/exemption, fee for private RX
- Dosage of medication (not a legal requirement)

Question 8

Emergency Supply at Patients Request

Answer 8

Patient asks for a supply of medicine without a prescription
Usually visit the pharmacy in person
- Representative may come e.g. parent, carer, relative
Rarely a phone call from the patient

Question 9

Emergency Supply at Patients Request: Summary

Answer 9

1) Interview
- use professional judgement
2) Immediate need
3) Previous treatment
4) Dose
5) Not for CDs, except phenobarbital
6) Length of treatment
7) Records kept
8) Labelling

Question 10

What should a pharmacist do for an emergency supply at a patients request?

Answer 10

They must interview the patient AND be satisifed that:
- There is an immediate need for POM.
- Impractical to obtain a prescription without undue delay.

Question 11

Emergency supply at patients’ request - requirements

Answer 11

POM must have previously been prescribed by an appropriate prescriber.
Pharmacist must know what dose they need to take:
- PMR
- Electronic health record
- Repeat slip
- Labelled medicine box

Question 12

Length of supply - Sch 4 or 5 CD

Answer 12

Max 5 days treatment.

Question 13

Length of supply - POM

Answer 13

No more than 30 days

Question 14

Length of supply - POM exemptions

Answer 14

Give the smallest pack available for:
Insulin
Ointment
Cream
Inhaler

Give a full treatment cycle for:
Oral contraceptives

Question 15

Emergency supply in a pandemic at patients request

Answer 15

Do not need to interview the patient
- need to be satisfied that the treatment has been previously prescribed by an appropriate practitioner and dose is appropriate

Question 16

Emergency Supply at patients request labelling requirements

Answer 16

1) Date of supply
2) Name, strength, form and quantity of product
3) Patients name
4) Name and address of the pharmacy
5) Emergency Supply
6) Keep out of the reach of children

Question 17

Refusal to supply

Answer 17

In the event of refusal to supply:
- Patient should be advised on how to obtain a Rx for the medicine or appropriate medical care
- This could involve referral to for example, a doctor, NHS 111, NHS walk-in centre or to an Accident and Emergency department.

A record could be made of why request was refused for audit purposes.

Question 18

CPCS

Answer 18

NHS 111, urgent care settings and 999 providers refer patients to a community pharmacy for an emergency supply of regular medicines under the NHS.