Law and ethics update (PM3C)

Question 1

Brexit

Answer 1

• Affects GPhC registration process for those with non-UK qualifications (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
• EEA countries no longer automatically recognise UK qualifications.
• Pharmacy professionals in UK no longer have to follow:
  EU Falsified Medicines Directive
  EU mandated distance-selling logo

Question 2

Brexit - Prescription from EEA or Swtizerland

Answer 2

• Approved list of whom we can accept prescriptions from.
• Prescriber must be registered in said country.
• Emergency supplies permitted.
• Not on the list = prescription not valid; use professional judgment to help the patient.

Question 3

Prescription written in foreign language

Answer 3

Still acceptable but need to have enough information to enable safe supply of medicines.

Question 4

Hub and spoke dispensing

Answer 4

• Hubs = pharmacies registered with the GPhC that assemble medicines for dispensing at spokes (accept Rx from multiple pharmacies).
• Spokes = pharmacies registered with the GPhC, and on the relevant pharmaceutical list of NHS chemist premises.
• Spokes send prescriptions electronically to hubs, which select, label, package and deliver the medicines back to the spoke.

Question 5

Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021

Answer 5

• Has the power to amend legislation in the HMR, VMR and Medical Devices Regulations.
• Permits independent pharmacies to outsource dispensing (hub and spoke dispensing) to different retail pharmacies.

Question 6

Patient Safety Comissioner

Answer 6

• Part of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021.
  (a)promote the safety of patients with regard to the use of medicines and medical devices
  (b)promote the importance of the views of patients and other members of the public in relation to the safety of medicines and medical devices.

Question 7

Calcidott guardians

Answer 7

• Senior person who ensures personal information about those who use its services is used legally, ethically and appropriately and that confidentiality is maintained.
• Every NHS organisation must have one (this may begin to include pharmacies and GP practices).

Question 8

SCRs

Answer 8

• Can only be accessed by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Question 9

Prescription - unable to access EPS

Answer 9

• Must take steps to ensure the item is supplied in a reasonable timescale.
• Providing pt with details of other pharmacies in the area who may be able to dispense the prescription.
• Emergency supply at request of the prescriber.
• Contact prescriber, ask for urgent provision of a non-electronic prescription.

Question 10

Healthy Living Pharmacy

Answer 10

• From January 1st, 2021, all pharmacies must meet HLP requirements.

Requirements:
- Consultation rooms (except small pharmacies and DSPs)
- Somewhere for staff and patients to communicate confidentially bytelephoneor anotherlive audiolinkanda livevideo link.

Question 11

NMS

Answer 11

• Can be conducted on 1% of monthly prescriptions.
• Catch-up NMS introduced in 2021/22 whereby patients who were prescribed a new medicine in COVID-19 but did not receive NMS at the time.

Question 12

Updates made to prescription forms

Answer 12

• Addition of box U (unibersal credit)
• Removal of box X (free of charge contraceptives)
• New endorsement ‘FS’ = free supply of sexual health, can only be added by prescribers.
• Merged two categories to make one - “is 60 years of age or over or is under 16 years of age”
• Exemption G reworded.

Question 13

Lidocaine - teething gel

Answer 13

• P
• Max 10g
• Second line option

Question 14

Stimulant laxatives

Answer 14

• GSL Pack size restrictions = pack size of two short treatment courses (up to 20 standard-strength tablets, 10 maximum-strength tablets or 100ml solution/syrup).
• GSL Age restrictions = 18+
• P = Packs of up to 100 for use in adults and children over 12.
• Under 12 = cannot be used without advice from prescriber