Wk 10: POM

Question 1

What are the exceptions to when a POM may be legally supplied without a Rx?

Answer 1

• Patient group directions
• Emergency supplies
• Patient specific directions in hospitals

Question 2

What is the difference between a supply and a sale when dispensing a POM?

Answer 2

• Supply = NHS prescription
• Sale = private prescription

Question 3

What are some examples of products that are always POMs?

Answer 3

• Parenteral products
• CD
• Cyanogenic substance
• Meds that emit radiation
• New chemical entities

Question 4

What are legal requirements for POMs?

Answer 4

• Signed in ink
• Valid for 6 months from date
• Practitioner must be registered in UK or by approved health professional in approved country

Question 5

What must a prescription for a POM include?

Answer 5

• Address + indication of practitioner
• Date
• Name + address of patient
• If under 12, the age

Question 6

When must repeatable prescriptions be dispensed within?

Answer 6

First time within 6 months of appropriate date

Question 7

What happens if a repeatable prescription does not specify the number of repeats?

Answer 7

Repeat once

Question 8

What is exempted from repeatable prescriptions not specifying the number of repeats?

Answer 8

• Oral contraceptives
• Can be dispensed 6 times

Question 9

What is not allowed on normal NHS prescriptions?

Answer 9

Repeats unless on NHS repeat dispensing scheme

Question 10

What is an approved health professional in an approved country?

Answer 10

Countries from EEA + Switzerland

Question 11

What is needed clinically, to dispense a prescription?

Answer 11

• Name of drug
• Form
• Strength
• Dose
• Frequency
• Quantity

Question 12

What are the legal requirements of private prescriptions?

Answer 12

• Written on anything
• Can be repeated
• No restrictions on prescribed med
• Date = date signed

Question 13

What can’t be done when exercising due diligence?

Answer 13

Can’t amend if info is present, only if missing

Question 14

What are the rules regarding dispensing by brand name?

Answer 14

If med prescribed by brand name, only branded product must be dispensed, otherwise owing slip used

Question 15

Is dispensing a CD Rx from a fax a criminal offense?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

What happens if a faxed prescription is dispensed?

Answer 16

Ensure original RX is in possession ASAP

Question 17

What are the rules regarding electronic prescriptions?

Answer 17

• Signed by appropriate practitioner
• Signed with advanced electronic signature

Question 18

What is an advanced electronic signature?

Answer 18

• Uniquely linked to person giving Rx
• Able to identify signatory
• Created to maintain under his/her control
• Any subsequent change of data is detectable

Question 19

What are the legal requirements for a non-uk prescription?

Answer 19

• Patient full name + DOB
• Prescriber full name, qualification, contact details (email , number + work address)
• Name of med, form, quantity, strength + dose
• Prescriber signature
• Date issued

Question 20

What are the exceptions when making a record for a supply of a POM?

Answer 20

• On health prescription or for oral contraceptive
• Record made in CD register
• Whole sale dealing + order retained for 2 yrs

Question 21

When do hospital pharmacies need to make records when supplying a POM?

Answer 21

Registered as pharmacy w/ GPhC

Question 22

What must be included when making prescription records?

Answer 22

• Date of sale
• Name, quantity, form + strength
• Date on Rx
• Name + address of practitioner
• Name + address of patient

Question 23

How long must records be kept?

Answer 23

2 years from date of last entry

Question 24

What happens to an NHS prescription at the end of the month?

Answer 24

Sent to NHSBSA

Question 25

What happens to a private prescription that is non-repeatable?

Answer 25

Kept for 2 years

Question 26

What happens to a private prescription that is repeatable?

Answer 26

Kept at pharmacy 2 yrs from date of final dispensing

Question 27

What are the 2 proposed models of hub + spokes?

Answer 27

• Rx handed at spoke, sent to hub, hub sends med to spoke, spoke supplies
• Rx handed at spoke, sent to hub, hub supplies to patient

Question 28

What are the advantages of dispensing from a hub?

Answer 28

• Efficient
• Lower cost
• Free up pharmacist time

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of dispensing from a hub?

Answer 29

• Accountability + liability
• Confidentiality
• Not suitable if urgent
• Operational faults

Question 30

A supply of a different medicine to that specified on a RX can only be done if..

Answer 30

In accordance to serious shortage protocol

Question 31

What are the 4 legal actions that can be done when following serious shortage protocol?

Answer 31

• Dispense smaller quantity
• Dispense alternative form or strength
• Dispense generic equivalent
• Dispense alternative drug w/ similar effect

Question 32

When must the GP NOT be informed if a switch of medicine has occurred under serious shortage protocol?

Answer 32

Diff. form or quantity

Question 33

What needs to be carried out when undergoing serious shortage protocol?

Answer 33

• Patient consent - if not then refer back
• OG prescription no longer valid tf no further supply
• Dispensing label indicates supply made under SSP + reference no.
• If receiving smaller quantity = exempt from payment