PRESCRIPTION DOCUMENTATION

Question 1

what are the legal aspects of a prescription?

Answer 1

• a printed FP10 must have a handwritten signature
• age should be stated in patients <12
• full name and address

Question 2

what are the basic prescription requirements?

Answer 2

Name and address
Age if under 12
Signed by prescriber
Dated (scripts for schedule 2, 3 and 4 drugs are only valid for 28 days)
Be written in indelible ink
Contain a prescirber identifier

Question 3

what details must you include about a medication on a prescription?

Answer 3

Dose
Form
Strength
Total quantity

Question 4

what do you need to add to controlled drug prescriptions that is not required on normal prescriptions?

Answer 4

• solid preparations = number of tablets supplied in numbers and words
• liquid preparations = total quantity in numbers and words

Question 5

what are the different classifications of medicinal products?

Answer 5

• general sales list (GSL)
• pharmacy (P)
• Prescription only (POM)

Question 6

what are unlicensed medications?

Answer 6

does not have UK marketing authorisation (MA)

Question 7

what is an off-label medication?

Answer 7

has marketing authorisation (MA) but use is outside terms of it’s licence

Question 8

what is good practice when prescribing unlicensed/off-label medications?

Answer 8

Be satisfied there are no suitable licensed alternatives
Be satisfied with evidence base
Be prepared to take responsibility for prescribing and monitoring
Document decision in medical notes
Ensure off label use is approved in BNF
Only prescribe under the advise of senior clinician
Inform patient

Question 9

which abbreviations are allowed on prescriptions?

Answer 9

• timings (OD, BD, TDS)
• measurements - for grams (g) and milligrams (mg) only, all others written out in full

Question 10

how should you write decimals on prescriptions?

Answer 10

avoid where possible
write 5mg instead of 5.0mg

write quantities less than 1mg in micrograms

write quantities less than 1g in mg

Question 11

what information about allergies should be documented?

Answer 11

• any allergies (even food)
• document if no known allergies

Question 12

when is prescribing by brand appropriate?

Answer 12

• all biological medications e.g. insulin, monoclonal antibodies etc
• antiepileptic medications
• BNF indicates when brand prescribing is appropriate.

Question 13

for inpatient prescribing, what should you document for as required medications?

Answer 13

• maximum dose
• dose interval
• indication

Question 14

what should you do if a patient has many medications with different routes?

Answer 14

• use single route where possible
• If multiple routes are prescribed they should be documented separately
• Indicate route e.g. SC, IM, OA

Question 15

how do you cancel inpatient paper prescriptions?

Answer 15

Put line through entry
Put signature and date
Document any changes and rationale