NHS and Private Prescriptions

Question 1

What are the legal requirements required to be on a prescription?

Answer 1

• Name of the patient
• Address of the patient
• Name of the prescriber
• Address of the prescriber
• Signature of the prescriber
• Particulars of the prescriber (type of prescriber)
• Date
• Age of the patient (if under 12 years old)

Question 2

Are the legal requirements for a private prescription the same for a NHS prescription?

Answer 2

Yes, it is the same.

Question 3

Which schedules cannot be prescribed on repeat prescriptions?

Answer 3

Schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs cannot be on repeat prescriptions.

Question 4

If you receive a repeat prescription which said ‘repeat 5 times’, how many times can the repeat prescription be dispensed?

Answer 4

It can be dispensed 6 times. First dispensing and then can be repeated 5 times, giving an overall of 6 times.

Question 5

If you receive a POM repeatable prescription, how long is the prescription valid for first dispensing?

Answer 5

6 months.

Question 6

If you receive a controlled drug repeatable prescription, how long is the prescription valid for its first dispensing?

Answer 6

Schedule 4 CD - 28 days

Schedule 5 CD - 6 months

Question 7

Which controlled drugs can be given on repeat prescriptions?

Answer 7

Schedule 4 and schedule 5 controlled drugs

Question 8

What are the legal requirements for EEA prescriptions to be dispensed in the UK?

Answer 8

• Patient’s full name
• Patient’s date of birth
• Prescriber’s full name
• Prescriber’s professional qualification
• Prescriber’s work address
• Prescriber’s email and contact number
• Prescriber’s signature
• Detail of prescribed medicine (name, strength, quantity and formulation
• Date of issue

Question 9

Which drugs cannot be prescribed on an EEA prescription?

Answer 9

• Schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs.

- Any drugs prescribed that have no marketing authorisation in the UK (refer patient to appropriate UK prescriber).

Question 10

What should you check if you receive an EEA prescription?

Answer 10

The registration status of the prescriber.

Question 11

Which controlled drug schedules require a standardised form when prescribed on a private prescription?

Answer 11

Schedule 2 and Schedule 3.

Question 12

Which standardised form is required for private prescription for schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs?

Answer 12

FP10PCD

Question 13

Which standardised form is used for the requisition (wholesale) of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs?

Answer 13

FP10CDF

Question 14

Which establishments are exempt from using a standardised form for the requisition of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs?

Answer 14

Hospices and prisons.

Question 15

What details are legally required to be on a private prescription for a controlled drug?

Answer 15

• Patient’s name
• Patient’s address
• Prescriber’s address
• Prescriber’s signature
• Dose
• Formulation (abbreviations like tabs and caps are accepted)
• Strength (if prescription available in more than one strength)
• Total quantity (words and figures)
• ‘For dental treatment only’ - if prescribed by a dentist
• Valid instalment direction

Question 16

Which part of the legally required information on a controlled drug prescription can a pharmacist amend and under what circumstances?

Answer 16

• If the total quantity of the controlled drug is not written in both words and numbers but is only written as one of them, the pharmacist can amend the prescription by writing the missing requirement (e.g. if word is missing but number is present, pharmacist can write the word to amend the private prescription.
• However, if both quantity in words and numbers are missing, the pharmacist cannot amend the prescription and should contact the prescriber for them to correct it.

Question 17

What should you write on the private prescription of a controlled drug after its supply?

Answer 17

The date of supply.

Question 18

If the prescriber wants the sugar free version of a controlled drug, what should the prescriber write on the prescription?

Answer 18

Prescriber should specify it on the private prescription (e.g. writing ‘sugar free’).

Question 19

In a controlled drug instalment, how many missed days should it be before you contact the prescriber?

Answer 19

Three or more consecutive days.

Question 20

Why should you contact the prescriber after they miss three consecutive days of their prescribed controlled drug treatment?

Answer 20

To consult the prescriber as the patient may have lost tolerance on the drug, therefore, supplying them their drug strength may cause an overdose.

Question 21

Is the pharmacist legally required to check who is the person collecting for schedule 2 controlled drug prescriptions?

Answer 21

Yes, the pharmacist should check whether the person collecting the schedule 2 prescription is the patient or the patient’s representative.

Question 22

What should the pharmacist do if the person collecting schedule 2 controlled drug is the patient or the patient’s representative?

Answer 22

The pharmacist may request evidence of that person’s identity, unless already known to the pharmacist.

Question 23

What should the pharmacist do if the person collecting schedule 2 controlled drug is a healthcare professional collecting on behalf of the patient?

Answer 23

Unless already known to the pharmacist, obtain:

• Name of healthcare professional
• Address of healthcare professional
• Request evidence of identity

Question 24

Which standardised form form is used for the instalment of controlled drugs?

Answer 24

FP10MDA

Question 25

Which drugs can be supplied in instalment through the FP10MDA form?

Answer 25

• Schedule 2 drugs
• Buprenorphine
• Naloxone
• Diazepam

Question 26

If a hospital requested a requisition supply from a pharmacy of either a schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug, will the hospital need the standardised/approved form for requisition?

Answer 26

Yes, if the hospital and pharmacy are in legally separate entities.

Question 27

If a registered pharmacy requested the supply of a schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug from another registered pharmacy, will an approved form of requisition be needed?

Answer 27

Yes, an approved form will be needed and the supply can only be made once this has been received by the supplier.

Question 28

Can a doctor or dentist receive a requisition supply in an emergency from a pharmacy without a requisition?

Answer 28

Yes, but they will have to provide the approved requisition form within 24 hours. Failure to do so would be an offence committed by either the doctor or the dentist.

Question 29

Is a standardised form required for either a schedule 2 or 3 private prescription that is issued and dispensed in the same legal entity? (e.g. doctor in the hospital wrote the prescription and sent it to the hospital pharmacy that is the same legal entity)

Answer 29

No, in this scenario, if the private prescription for a schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug is issued and dispensed in the same legal entity, a standardised form is not required.

Question 30

What are prescribed on the standardised form FP10PCD

Answer 30

Private prescriptions for schedule 2 or 3 controlled drugs.