MEP Flashcards
What are the elements of professional judgement?
Professional Judgement
* Identify the ethical dilemma or professional issue
* Gather all the relevant information and research the problem
* Weigh up the benefits and risks of each option
* Choose an option – ensuring you can justify the decision
* Record the decision-making process
How many CPD logs must be submitted each year?
- Four continuing professional development records (at least two planned)
What is the revalidation process for pharmacy professionals?
Pharmacy professionals must submit the following records each year:
* Four continuing professional development records (at least two planned)
* A peer discussion
* A reflective account
What is an independent prescriber?
A practitioner, who is responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and can make prescribing decisions to manage the clinical coniditon of the patient
What is a supplementary prescriber?
practitioner that prescribes within an agreed patient specific written clinical management plan, agreed in partnership with a doctor or dentist
How are adverse events reported?
reported via the yellow card scheme. Reports the adverse event to the MHRA.
Discuss near miss errors in the pharmacy
regular review can prevent similar mistakes happening again in the future. Helps to support clinical governance in pharmacy and to promote an open culture of near miss errors so that all staff can learn from them.
How are dispensing errors handled?
- Take steps to let the patient know promptly
- Make things right (may involve contacting the prescriber)
- Offer an apology
- Let involved colleagues know
When can legal defences be used?
Can be used when the error has been:
* Dispensed in a registered pharmacy and
* Dispensed under the supervision of a registered pharmacist and
* Supplied against a prescription, pgd or direction from prescriber and
* Promptly notified to the patient once the pharmacy team are aware of the error
Discuss sexual activity in children
- Children under 13 are legally too young – report to social services
- Under 16 may be an offence but consensual
- Can provide contraception either on prescription or under PGD to a child or young person under 16 as long as the fraser criteria are met
What are the fraser criteria?
they have sufficient maturity and intelligence to understand the nature and implications of the proposed treatment, they cannot be persuaded to tell their parents or allow the practitioner to tell them, they are very likely to begin or continue having sexual intercourse without contraception, their physical/mental health is likely to suffer without advice or treatment and it is in their best interest.
When must the pharmacist report something associated with sexual health
When female genital mutilation is reported
Discuss vulnerable adults
May fall into one of the following groups:
* Suffers from mental/physical disability
* Has learning difficulties
* Is frail or elderly
* Is in a abusive relationship
* Is a substance misuser
Vulnerable adult’s wishes should be considered at all times. Obtain consent from the patient before disclosing any information about them.
What are GSL medications?
- Made available for self-selection, and can be sold in retail outlets that can close as to exclude the public
- Can be sold in the absence of the pharmacist (must be signed in as responsible but can be absent from the pharmacy
What are pharmacy medicines?
- Can be sold from a registered premises by the pharmacist or a person acting under the supervision of a pharmacist
- Must not be accessible for self selection
What is a prescription only medicine?
- Requires a prescription written by an appropriate prescriber
Discuss amorolfine nail lacquer
over 18 years old, limited to a maximum of two infected nails at a time, contraindicated in pregnanct and breast feeding. Applied once a week.
Discuss legalities/counselling with chloramphenicol
acute bacterial conjunctivitis. 2 years and older. Contraindicated in pregnancy/breastfeeding, any blood disorders, bone marrow problems. If both drops and ointment are being used, the drops should be used during the day and ointment should be used at night. Interacts with bone marrow depressant drugs. REFER: eye inflammation, eye pain, swelling, dry eyes, glaucoma, recent eye infection, new infection during treatment. URGENT REFERRAL: cloudy looking eye, unsual looking pupil, affected vision, photophobia, painful eye movements, eye pain, worsening symptoms despite use, contact lenses In the shower, eye/head injury, recent eye surgery. Refer after treatment if: symptoms don’t improve after 48 hours, symptoms worsen, any side effects. Drops in fridge (2-8 degrees), ointment no more than 25 degrees.
Discuss legalities and counselling with desogestrel
progesterone only pill. Contraindicated if: blood clot, active/history of liver disease or liver cancer, active/suspected sex-steroid sensitive cancer, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, person is allergic or intolerant to any of the ingredients, pregnant. Administration: new: start on day 1 of period, can start on days 2-5 but will need additional protection for 7 days. If previous: start taking day after without a break. After EHC: levonorgestrel – start straightaway and use additional barrier for seven days. Ulipristal – wait 5 days after as can stop from working and use an additional barrier method, then start and continue with barrier method for a further 7 days. Childbirth: if period then same as normal. If period hasn’t started and <21 days after delivery then start. If >21 days, exclude pregnancy then start and use additional barrier for 7 days. Miscarriage/abortion: start straightaway or within 5 days. Switching: Fom combined – start taking day after the last active tablet. Ring, cap, patch – start day of removal. Use barrier method for 7 days if started during the break. POP: day after. Long acting reversible: start taking day after removal or when next injection due. Late pill: <12 hours: protected. >12 hours: unprotected, use barrier for 7 days and consider ehc. Interactions: anti-convulsants, st johns wort, antibiotics. Can be used in breastfeeding but not in pregnancy. If diarrhoea or vomiting: Within 3-4 hours, follow missed pill rules.
Compare ulipristal to levonogestrel
UA - within 5 days, take another if vomit in 3 hours, do not bf for a week, express milk and discard to maintain lactation, can reduce efficacy of contraceptives, so dont restart for 5 days and use appropriate barrier
L - within 3 days, 2x if taken cyp inducers in last 4 weeks, less effective in high BMI, Take after bf, can continue regular contraceptive
What are the legalities around EHC?
Can supply to someone else if it is a genuine request, but should speak to patient if the representative cannot provide the information required.
Can make an advanced supply
Discuss long term contraception/ STI risk
What are the legalities around mometasone
clarinaze allergy spray. For hayfever and allergic rhinitis. Over 18 years old. 2 sprays once a day.can commonly cause nose bleeds. Interacts with cyp inducers. If symptoms do not improve within 14 days, refer. Do not use for more than 3 months. DO NOT SUPPLY IF: under 18, more than 3 months, untreated localized infection, recent nasal surgery. Refer if: no improvement, symptoms persist
What are the legalities around orlistat
adults, 18+, BMI>28. REFER: Diabetes, hypertension/hypercholesterolaemia, amiodarone, levothyroxine, antiepiletptics, 6 months use or longer, unable to lose weight after 12 weeks, rectal bleeding, kidney disease. Caution with fat soluble vitamins.
Which PPIs are available otc
omeprazole 10mg and pantoprazole 20mg. over 18 years old. Don’t supply if over 55 years old, and any red flag symptoms
What are the legalities with sildenafil
Viagra 50mg. Men over 18 years old with ed. CONFIRM diagnosis, contraindicated in ritonavir, nitrates, severe cv disorder, hepatic impairment, hypotension, loss of vision, women, under 18 yo.
When should patients requesting tranexamic acid be referred?
refer if: under 18/over 45, taking for three cycles without a reduction in bleeding, breastfeeding women, obese/diabetic, PCOS, oestrogen/tamoxifen.
Discuss the legalities of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine
- Potential for misuse in production of crystal meth
- Cannot supply a product/combination that contain more than 720mg pseudoephedrine or 180mg epdedrine
- Cannot sell pseudo/ephedrine together
- Should be made by pharmacist/competent pharmacy staff
What are the signs of potential misuse of pseudo/ephedrine
lack of symptoms, rehearsed answers, impatient or aggressive, opportunistic, specific products, paraphernalia such as lithium batteries or acetone, large quantities, frequent requests.
What are the 3 main types of EHC
- Copper IUD
- Oral ulipristal acetate (EllaOne) – 120 hours
- Levonorgestrel – 72 hours
Can pharmacists give an advanced supply of EHC?
Pharmacists can provide advanced supply, but patient should be assessed that they are competent and intend to use the medication appropriately
What are the legalities for paracetamol and aspirin?
Paracetamol: no more than 100 non effervescent tablets or capsules can be sold at any one time. In practice, this is 96. There is no legal limit on the quantity of effervescent forms
Aspirin: no more than 100, 96 in practice. NO legal limit on effervescent forms
What are the legal considerations for codeine and dihydrocodeine?
Indications: restricted to short term treatment of acute, moderate pain that is not relieved by paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin alone.
Pack sizes: any pack containing more than 32 is a POM.
PIL and labels: the warning ‘can cause addiction, for 3 days use only’ must be prominent and clear on the pack. PIL, packaging must state the indication and that the medicine can cause addicition or headache if used continuously for more than 3 days, must also contain information about the warning signs of addiction.
What are the general prescription requirements?
A pharmacist is able to sell or supply a POM under the authority of an appropriate practitioner or via an exemption.
1. Signature
Must be signed in ink by prescriber. Advanced electronic signature can be used for an electronic prescription
2. Address of prescriber
3. Date
Valid for up to 6 months from the appropriate date. NHS prescriptions, the date is the later of either the date the script was signed, or a date indicated by the practitioner as the date before which it should not be dispensed.
For private scripts, this is always the date it was signed.
4. Particulars of prescriber (type)
5. Name of patient
6. Address of patient
7. Age if under 12 years
Can pharmacists dispense prescriptions from the crown dependencies (jersey, guernsey, IOM)
You should be satisfied that all requirements are present for it to be legally valid. For schedule 2/3 CDs, address must be within the UK.
What are the legalities for repeatable RX’s?
Private prescriptions that contain a direction that they can be dispensed more than once e.g repeat x5
If number not stated, repeat once (dispense twice), unless it is for an oral contraceptive, which can be repeated 5x (dispensed 6x)
Schedule 2&3 NOT repeatable, but can repeat sched 4/5
First dispensing must be within 6 months of date, and then there is no legal limit for following repeats.
Schedule 4 CD – first dispense within 28 days, then there is no time limit for remaining repeats.
Patient can have repeats from different pharmacies and can retain the script.
Mark on the script the name/address of pharmacy and make a note of the date to maintain an audit trail.
How long are owings for POM and sched 5 drugs valid for?
POM & sched 5 – 6 months from date
How long are owinga for sched 2,3,4 valid?
28 days
How long are owings for oral retinoids or SV valid for?
owing can exceed 7 days if the pharmacist is sure there is no risk of pregnancy
What are the legal requirements for record keeping for private rx’s
Private prescriptions – POM for 2 years from date of supply/or repeatable from date of last supply. Schedule 2 and 3 musst be submitted to NHS agency. Records made in POM register, which should be retained for 2 years from date of last entry.
POM Entries: supply date, prescription date, medicine name, quantiy, formulation, strength, presciber name and address, name and address of patient. Made on day of or next day. Oral contraceptives are exempt, and schedule 2 CDs go in a separate register.
What entry should be made into the POM register for private rx’s?
supply date, prescription date, medicine name, quantiy, formulation, strength, presciber name and address, name and address of patient. Made on day of or next day. Oral contraceptives are exempt, and schedule 2 CDs go in a separate register.
Can faxed prescriptions be dispensed?
NO, Not a legally valid script, as it is not in indelible ink and has not be signed by prescriber. Should make informed decision and take steps to safeguard. Make a record of decision. Cannot supply schedule 2/3.
Can scripts from the EEA/Switzerland be dispensed?
If issued by approved health professional, repeats and scripts can be dispensed, emergency supplies can also be provided
What must be present on a prescription from approved EEA countries/switzerland
- Patient details, full first name surname, date of birth
- Prescriber full name, surname, professional qualifications, contact details including email address, telephone number, work address including country
- Prescribed med details, form, quantity, strength, dosage
- Signature
- Date of issue. 6 months validity and 28 days for CD
How fast should a script for emergency supply from EEA/SWITZ be recieved?
Within 72 hours
Can emergency supplies be made for EEA/Swiss
Yes, but Schedule 1,2,3 including phenobarbital cannot be supplied
What is legally required on the dispensing label?
- Name of patient
- Name and address of pharmacy
- Date of dispensing
- Name of medicine
- Directions for use
- Precaution relating to use
- Keep out of sight and reach of children - suggested not legal req.
What must be present on a label if from bulk
- Name of medicine
- Quantity
- Handling and storage
- Expiry date
- Batch number
When can covert administration be used
To people who actively refuse to take their medications, and who lack mental capacity in accordance with agreed management plan
Can pharmacists supply and administer diamorphine and morphine?
Pharmacists can supply and administer diamorphine and morphine under a PGD for the immediate, necessary treatment of sick persons
When can emergency supplies be made?
- to humans not animals
- on request of prescriber or patient
- relevant prescriber: doctor, dentist, supplementary prescriber, nurse independent, pharmacist independent, community nurse, physiotherapist, podiatrist, radiographer, optometrist, EEA or Swiss health professional, paramedic
- from prescriber – must receive script within 72 hours
- NOT for CDs except phenobarbital
What must be entered into the POM register for emergency supplies at the request of a prescriber?
Date, name, name and address of prescriber, name and address of patient, date on prescription, date script received