POMs, Prescriptions and Prescribers

Question 1

What are pink, blue, lilac, green, white and yellow prescriptions used for? Who can they be prescribed by?

Answer 1

pink
- FP10PCD = Schedule 2 and 3 CDs in the private sector

blue
- FP10MDA = instalment prescribing (addiction)

lilac
- FP10PN/SP = nurse prescribers (SP/IP) via the nurse formulary

green
- FP10SS/NC = GP, community practitioner nurse prescriber, supplementary prescriber

white
- FP10CDF = CD requisito form

yellow
- FP10D = dentist via the dental formulary

Question 2

What is EPS?

Answer 2

electronic prescription service (EPS)

• prescription will be submitted electronically from the GP to a nominated pharmacy via ‘The Spine’
• pharmacist will use the barcode on the dispensing token to download the prescription details and dispense the prescription

Question 3

What is the different between R1 barcoded prescriptions and phase 4 EPS prescription?

Answer 3

release 1 (R1) barcoded prescriptions
- is a legal prescription
= has an ink signature
- can be used to dispense prescription items

phase 4 EPS prescription/prescription token
- is not a legal prescription
= is issued in parallel with a legal electronic NHS prescription

Question 4

How does phase 4 EPS work?

Answer 4

GP issues a prescription

A ‘non-nominated’ EPS R2 prescription can be issued if

• no nomination present
• a paper prescription is not requested by the patient

medication is added to central NHS spine

the spine holds the Rx ready to be pulled down once the patient presents their token to their chosen pharmacy

patient takes their token to their chosen pharmacy, token is scanned and the medicine is dispensed for the patient to collect

Question 5

What are FMed296 prescriptions? How can they be presented? What are the exceptions?

Answer 5

military prescriptions
- must be written on this specific form

if given to a non-contracted pharmacy
- Rx should be treated as a private Rx and it is unto the patient to reclaim costs

if a NHS or private Rx is given
- charge them the appropriate fee and it is upto them to reclaim costs

if Schedule 2 or 3 CDs are needed
- must be given on a pink FP10CD form otherwise it cannot be legally dispensed

Question 6

What are some unusual FMed296 Rx which should be examined carefully?

Answer 6

handwritten FMed296
- are typically computer generated

British Force Post Office (BFPO) address stamp
- Rx which this stamp has been generated abroad and are normally not seen in the UK

Question 7

What are the requirements of normal prescriptions?

Answer 7

name and address of the patient
date of birth/age - if under 12 years old
signature of the prescriber in indelible ink
name and address of the prescriber
date - must be within 6 months of dispensing

Question 8

What are the requirements of private prescriptions?

Answer 8

name and address of the patient
date of birth/age - if under 12 years old
signature of the prescriber in indelible ink
name and address of the prescriber
date - must be within 6 months of dispensing

Question 9

What are the requirements of EEA/Swiss prescriptions?

Answer 9

name of the patient
- address is not required
date of birth/age - if under 12 years old
signature of the prescriber in indelible ink
name and address of the prescriber
- includes professional qualifications, direct contact details (email address and telephone or fax number) work address
prescribed medicine details
date - must be within 6 months of dispensing

Question 10

What are the types of appropriate prescribers?

Answer 10

doctors and dentists as well as other professions with prescribing rights
- i.e. chiropodists or podiatrists, nurses (including community nurses), optometrists, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists and therapeutic radiographers

Question 11

What can/cannot be prescribed by EEA/Swiss prescribers?

Answer 11

can supply Schedule 4.1, 4.2 and 5
- as normal Rx and emergency supply

cannot prescribe Schedule 2 and 3 CDs under any circumstances
- not even for emergency supply

Question 12

What should be kept in records for private prescriptions? How long should they be kept for?

Answer 12

supply date
prescription date
medicine details 
- name, formulation, quantity, strength
prescriber details 
- name, address
patient details
- name, address

must be kept for 2 years from the date of sale/supply

for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs they must be sent to the relevant NHS agency
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)

Question 13

What are exemptions to records being made in the POM register?

Answer 13

oral contraceptives

Schedule 2 CDs where a separate CD register has been made