Prescribing Standards Flashcards
What is the core responsibility of a prescriber?
Clinical assessment, establishing a diagnosis, management required, and appropriateness of prescribing.
What is a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (PIP)?
A pharmacist who has completed approved education and training to prescribe all medicines independently within their scope of practice.
From when will pharmacists joining the GPhC register be annotated as independent prescribers?
From 2026.
What settings can a PIP prescribe in?
- Community pharmacy
- Hospital / GP / Care Homes
- Community health teams
- Prisons
- Armed forces
- Travel clinics
- Online clinics
- Private cosmetic clinics
What can a PIP prescribe?
- Licensed medicines
- Off-label medicines
- Unlicensed medicines
- Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 5 controlled drugs
What can’t a PIP prescribe?
Diamorphine, dipipanone or cocaine for the purpose of treating addiction.
What are the four main areas of the lecture structure?
- Taking Responsibility for Prescribing
- Keeping Up To Date and Prescribing Within Your Level of Competence
- Working in Partnership with Other Healthcare Professionals
- Prescribing Considerations and Clinical Judgement
What must PIPs consider when prescribing?
- Patient’s best interests
- Professional judgement
- Effective communication
Fill in the blank: PIPs must only prescribe within their _______.
[knowledge, skills, and area of competence]
What should PIPs do to ensure safe prescribing?
- Access medical records
- Assess clinical need
- Monitor patient safety
What is the purpose of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society A Competency framework?
To help prescribers identify gaps in their knowledge and maintain competencies.
What are SMART objectives?
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound objectives.
What should PIPs document when changing their scope of practice?
Inclusion/exclusion criteria for patient groups.
What is the importance of effective communication in partnership with other healthcare professionals?
To deliver safe and effective care and maintain confidentiality.
When should PIPs share prescribing information?
When a patient has a regular prescriber and with the patient’s consent.
What must PIPs ensure when continuing treatment prescribed by another healthcare professional?
They are still accountable for their prescribing decisions.
What are the considerations for prescribing for self, family, and friends?
- Must not prescribe unless in exceptional circumstances
- When no other prescriber is available
- To save a life or avoid serious deterioration
True or False: PIPs can regularly prescribe for their family members.
False.
What are the conditions under which a prescriber can prescribe for themselves or someone they know?
When there is no other prescriber available, and delaying would risk the person’s life or health, or cause unacceptable pain or distress.
What must a prescriber do if they prescribe for someone they have a close personal relationship with?
Justify their decision, consider whether their judgment is impaired, refer to another prescriber if unable to prescribe, and make a clear record of the relationship and reasons for prescribing.
What should PIPs do to protect a person’s safety when prescribing?
Keep initial prescribing separate from supplying medicines, use professional judgment, and give the patient the opportunity to take their prescription elsewhere.
What is required for PIPs when prescribing and supplying medicines?
Have robust procedures, ensure the decision is in the person’s best interests, and ensure indemnity insurance covers the situation.
What types of products can PIPs prescribe in their role as an aesthetic pharmacist?
Non-surgical cosmetic medicinal products such as botulinum toxin and medical devices.
What are the requirements for administering non-surgical cosmetic products?
Ensure appropriate training, act in the person’s best interests, meet registration and regulatory standards, and oversee delegated administration.
