Law Flashcards
Where can GSL medicines be supplied?
- sold in retail outlets that can close to the public
- sold in registered retail pharmacy under a responsible pharmacist - these can be out for self-selection
Where can P medicines be supplied?
In a registered retail pharmacy by/under supervision of an RP.
P Meds HAVE to be behind the counter/not accessible by self-selection.
Where can POM medicines be supplied?
Requires a prescription by an appropriate prescriber.
What is a PO (Pharmacy Only) medicine?
A GSL medicine that a manufacturer restricts sale through via pharmacies.
True or False. A pharmacist always has to sell a GSL medicine but doesn’t always have to sell a P medicine.
FALSE - the pharmacist have the power to refuse sale/supply of any medicines if it goes against their clinical judgement.
True or False. GSL medicines can only be sold when a pharmacist has assumed the role of the responsible pharmacist.
TRUE - can also be sold during the 2 hours of their allowed absence as they have assumed the role.
Only cannot be sold in a pharmacy when an RP hasn’t signed on for the day.
Appropriate practitioners can prescribe medicines - who are they?
- Doctors, Dentists, Vets
(Dentists can prescribe on an NHS Rx only drugs of the dentist formulary)
Independent Prescribers:
- Nurse
- Pharmacist
- Paramedic
- Optometrist (no CDs or parenteral POMs)
- Podiatrists
- Physiotherapists
- Therapeutic Radiographers (POMs, certain CDs, off-label medicines)
Supplementary Prescribers according to a clinical management plan:
- Pharmacists, midwives, nurses, chiropodists, dietician, podiatrist, physiotherapist, radiographer, optometrist
Community Nurse Prescriber
What is the maximum amount of pseudoephedrine that can be sold?
720mg
60mgs (x12 tabs)
What is the maximum amount of ephidrine that can be sold?
180mg
True or False? Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine can be supplied together on prescription.
TRUE - they can be supplied on a prescription but NOT sold together as they can be abused to produce methyl amphetamine
True or False?
A pharmacist can make an advanced supply of EHC.
TRUE.
Which EHC can be supplied to someone who is 15?
Ella One (Ulipristal)
Levonelle is 16+ only
What is the maximum pack size of Paracetamol/Aspirin that can be sold?
MAXIMUM - 100 tabs
in practice its 3 x 32 = 96 tabs
What is the maximum pack size of effervescent paracetamol/aspirin that can be sold?
NO maximum pack size on any liquids, effervescent, granules or powders.
What is the only indication of codeine/dihydrocodeine OTC?
Short-Term treatment of acute, moderate pain not relieved by simple analgesia.
NOT for any coughs/colds etc.
What is the maximum pack sizes of codeine/dihydrocodeine?
32 dose units
What is the maximum pack size of effervescent codeine/dihydrocodeine?
32 dose units - SAME as normal tabs.
What is the legal required wording on the packs of codeine/dihydrocodeine products?
- ‘can cause addiction, for three days use only’
- ‘can cause addiction or headache if used continuously for more than 3 days’
What are the legal requirements of a general prescription (NHS + Private)?
- Name + Address of Patient
- Prescriber Particulars + Address of Prescriber
- Age (if under 12)
- Date
- Signature
What is the validity of private POM prescriptions?
6 months from the date of the SIGNATURE
- cannot be from the ‘appropriate’ date as with NHS prescriptions
What is a repeatable prescription?
ONLY for private prescriptions - means they contain a direction which means they can be dispensed more than once
On a repeatable prescription, if a value isn’t stated, how many times can the prescription be dispensed?
TWICE
unless an oral contraceptive - can be repeated 5 times to give a total of 6 DISPENSED items
What items can be prescribed on a repeatable prescription?
Schedule 4 + 5
POM
NOT schedule 2/3
When must the first dispensing be made for repeatable prescriptions?
within the first 6 months of the date
(within 28 days for a Schedule 4)
no legal limit on the remaining repeats of a repeatable prescription
If you have dispensed a repeatable prescription for the first time, where does the prescription go?
BACK to the patient - remains their property and can take to different pharmacies.
Mark the prescription with pharmacy details + date of supply.
What are the legal requirements of an entry for a private prescription into the POM register?
- Supply Date
- Prescription Date
- Medicine Details (name, quantity, formulation, strength) - NOT legal requirement
- Prescriber Name + Address
- Patient Name + Address
How long should private prescriptions be retained for?
2 years
- from the date of sale/supply for normal private prescriptions
- from the date of the LAST sale/supply for repeatable prescriptions
How long should private prescriptions for Schedule 2 + 3 be retained for?
NOT retained by the pharmacy - sent to the NHS BSA
How long should the POM register be retained for?
2 years from the date of the last entry in the register
When should records for a private POM be made?
ON the day of the sale/supply or on the next day following
oral contraceptives are exempt
When should records for a private CD Schedule 2’s be made in the POM register?
records NOT kept in the POM register - only in the CD register
What can dentists prescribe on an NHS prescription?
ONLY medicines included in the Dentist’s Prescribers Formulary
but can prescribe ANYTHING on a private prescription
True or False. Faxed prescriptions can be dispensed against as they are proof a prescription exists.
FALSE. Faxed prescriptions are NOT legal prescriptions + carry many risks.
What are the legal requirements of a prescription from an EEA country/Switzerland?
SAME as a normal UK private prescription EXCEPT:
- need full details of the prescriber (email address, telephone, fax number, work address, professional qualifications)
TRUE or FALSE. Prescriptions in another language is not legally valid.
FALSE. Can supply against the prescription provided there are enough details to ensure a safe supply.
What medicinal products are allowed to be prescribed on a prescription from EEA countries/Switzerland?
GSL, P, POM, Schdeule 4 + 5
Schedule 1, 2, 3 (incl. Phenobarbital) + unlicensed medicines aren’t allowed
TRUE or FALSE. EEA/Switzerland prescribers or patients from these countries cannot request emergency supplies.
FALSE. They can, it is legally possible.
Follow usual procedures but remember that prescriptions at request of prescribers still need tone received within 72 hours.
What are the conditions of military prescriptions?
- community pharmacies have to have a Ministry of Defence contract + invoice the MOD directly
- if they don’t have an MOD contract, treat as a private prescription
- written on an FMED 296 military form
- Schedule 2 + 3 cannot be dispensed on these forms
- they’re usually computer generated + have a British Forces Post Office address stamp
What are the legal requirements of labels of dispensed medicinal products?
- Name of the Patient
- Name + Address of Pharmacy
- Date of Dispensing
- Name of the Medicine
- Directions for Use
- Precautions relating to the use of the medicine
What is recommended to been the labels of dispensed medicinal products?
- keep out of the reach and sight of children
- use this medicine only on your skin (where applicable)
What are the requirements of broken bulk containers (in anticipation of prescriptions)?
- Name of the medicine
- Quantity of the medicine in the container
- Quantitative particulars of the medicine (ingredients)
- Handling + storage requirements where appropriate
- Expiry Date
- Batch Ref No.
e.g. packing down Gaviscon 500mLs into 100mL bottles ready for prescriptions
True or False. Only an appropriate practitioner can administer parenteral POM’s?
FALSE - can be an appropriate practitioner/someone in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner
What are the exemptions for the administering of parenteral POM’s?
- Naloxone for a drug-related overdose
- Adrenaline in anaphylaxis
- Smallpox vaccine after exposure
- Midwives/Paramedics certain POM’s in certain conditions
What is a patient specific direction?
usually, a WRITTEN instruction from a Dr/Dentist/Non-Medical Prescriber for a medicine to be supplied to a named patient
e.g. inpatient charts
although can be verbal/telephoned
What are the legal requirements of a patient specific direction?
there are no legal requirements - law doesn’t stipulate what should be included but there should be enough info that the medicine can be administered safely
What are the scenarios sales + supplies of POMs can be made without a prescription?
- PGD
- PSD
- Emergency Supplies
- Optometrist/Podiatrist Signed Orders
- Salbutamol & Adrenaline to Schools
- Naloxone to individuals providing recognised drug treatment services
What is a Patient Group Direction?
a set of written directions that allows the supply/administration of a specified medicine by named health professionals to a DEFINED group of patients
How should medicines of a Patient Group Direction be labelled?
in the same way as if supplied against a prescription
Which prescribers can make a request for an emergency supply of a medicine?
the same as appropriate practitioners
- all IPs
- Dr/Dentists
- supplementary prescribers
- EEA/Swiss
What classes of medicines can be requested by a prescriber on an emergency supply?
Only GSL, P, POM’s, Schedules 4 + 5
NOT Schedule 1, 2, 3 (except for phenobarbital for specific prescribers)
What prescribers are able to request phenobarbital for the treatment of epilepsy on an emergency supply?
- Dr/Dentist
- Nurse/Pharmacist Prescriber
- Supplementary Prescriber
What are the conditions of an emergency supply at the request of a prescriber?
- must be made by an appropriate prescriber
- must be satisfied that it’s an emergency
- prescription needs to be received in 72 hours
- supplied in accordance with the direction of the prescriber
- entry in the POM register
What needs to be recorded for the emergency supply at the request of a prescriber?
GOING to receive a prescription, so:
- Name + Address of Prescriber
- Name + Address of Patient
- Name + Quantity of Medicine Supplied
- Date the medicine is supplied
- Date on the prescription (when it arrives)
- Date on which the prescription is received (when it arrives)
What are the conditions of an emergency supply at the request of a patient?
- interview the patient
- establish an immediate need
- must have been prescribed before by a UK, EEA/Swiss prescriber
- satisfied with the dose
What medicines can be supplied for an emergency supply at the request of a patient?
POM
NO Schedule 1, 2, 3 (except for phenobarbital - but these patients need to have their prescribers as UK-registered)
TRUE or FALSE. You cannot make an emergency supply of a medicine at the request of a patient if a Dr’s surgery is open.
FALSE.
Sending someone to a surgery may not always be the most appropriate option.
What medicines can EEA/Swiss prescribers request as an emergency supply?
POM
NOT Schedule 1, 2 OR 3 (incl. phenobarbital - can’t do this)
What medicines can patients of EEA/Swiss prescribers request as an emergency supply?
POM
NOT Schedule 1, 2 OR 3 (incl. phenobarbital) + UNLICENSED in the UK
What is the maximum treatment length of an emergency supply at the request of the patient?
Phenobarbital, Schedule 4 + 5 = 5 days
Other POM’s = 30 DAYS
- unless to the nearest small pack size available (e.g. inhaler, cream, insulin)
- unless an oral contraception = full treatment cycle to be supplied
- smallest quantity to provide a full course of treatment of liquid Abx
What needs to be recorded for the emergency supply at the request of a patient?
- Name + Address of Patient
- Info on the Nature of Emergency
- Name if drug + quantity
- Date POM supplied
When do records for emergency supply have to be made?
SAME day or next day if more practical.
What is a signed order?
NOT a prescription = request from an optometrist/podiatrist/school for a supply of a POM directly to a patient
need a record in the POM register
TRUE or FALSE. Signed order still have to comply with prescription requirements.
FALSE - Optometrist/Podiatrist
but still need to be satisfied with the advice on there
(schools - additional requirements)
TRUE or FALSE. Optometrists and Podiatrists can’t authorise prescriptions unless they’re IP’s, which is why they use signed orders.
TRUE.
What medicines are able to be supplied from a signed order of an optometrist/podiatrist?
one which can be legally sold/supplied by the optometrist/podiatrist rather than one the they can only administer
What information legally needs to be included on a signed order from a school for adrenaline/salbutamol?
- Name of the School
- Product Details (strength)
- Purpose for which the product is required
- Total quantity required
- Signature of the principal/head teacher
Headed Paper - not a legal requirement