Prescription Only Medicines

Question 1

What is the legal definition of a POM?

Answer 1

a medicine listed in the POM Order or a medicine where the marketing authorisation lists the classification as POM

Question 2

When can a POM be legally supplied without a prescription?

Answer 2

Patient Group Directions
Emergency supplies
Patient specific directions in hospitals

Question 3

What is the working definition of a POM?

Answer 3

A medicinal product which may only be supplied in

accordance with a prescription signed by an appropriate practitioner

Question 4

How is a prescription a PSD?

Answer 4

patient specific direction (specific to patient on the prescription)

Question 5

What are the legal requirements of a POM prescription?

Answer 5

must be signed by appropriate practitioner
in ink
written in ink otherwise to be indelible
contain: address of the appropriate practitioner, appropriate date, indication of kind of appropriate practitioner giving it, name and address of patient, if person is under 12, their age.
valid for 6 months after prescription date
practitioner registered in the uk

Question 6

What is the law for medicines and owing supply date?

Answer 6

medicines must be supplied within 6 months of written date, owings must also be dispensed within 6 months

Question 7

What is the law for repeat prescriptions supply date?

Answer 7

repeat prescriptions must be dispensed for the first time within 6 months of the appropriate date, then after there is no expiry date

Question 8

What does a repeat of x3 mean?

Answer 8

dispense once, then repeat 3 times (4 in total)

Question 9

What is a yellow prescription?

Answer 9

A dentist prescription (FP10D)

Question 10

What is the difference between a private dentist prescription and a non private?

Answer 10

Private prescription can prescribe any medication even if not on the DPF, whilst non private can’t.

Question 11

What is a lilac prescription?

Answer 11

A nurse prescription (FP10F), must be listed in NPF.

Question 12

When does a POM legally not need a record?

Answer 12

If a health (NHS) prescription
if have made a separate record in the CD register
if a prescription of an oral contraceptive

Question 13

For how long is a POM record kept?

Answer 13

2 years

Question 14

What is the difference between a private repeat and non private repeat prescription?

Answer 14

For private repeat prescriptions, if there are still repeats remaining they can be given back to the patient. If not/after keep at pharmacy for 2 years.

Question 15

For how long should an NHS prescription be kept for after dispensing?

Answer 15

2 years, send to the NHSBSA and PSD at the end of month

Question 16

Why is a faxed prescription not legally valid?

Answer 16

It is not written in ink or signed by the practitioner.

Question 17

Does the law specify what should be included in a PSD? (prescribing POMs in hospitals for inpatients)

Answer 17

No the law does not specify what should be included in a PSD, they do not need to comply with patient prescriptions.

Question 18

Is it lawful to administer a POM?

Answer 18

It is unlawful to administer a parenteral POM to other than yourself, unless when administered in life saving emergency, or in accordance of appropriate practitioner.
Small pox vaccine exempt in some conditions.