Prescribing
Cannabis-based Medicinal Products and Cancard
The BMA offer guidance on cannabis-based medicinal products which details what constitutes a cannabis-based product for medicinal use, who can prescribe them, and under what circumstances. The BMA and RCGP have issued a joint statement regarding Cancard and say: Some concerns have been raised...
Community Pharmacy - A Guide for GPs
This is an excellent summary of how Community Pharmacies work, the funding streams and contracting arrangements and the requirements for being a community pharmacist (training, qualification, control and regulation) written by PSNC, NHS employers and the BMA. The document, together with further...
Counter Fraud - Drug seekers
Wessex LMCs hosted a meeting with NHS Counter Fraud services to discuss the issue of patients who try to obtain drugs (usually opiates and benzodiazepines) under false pretences. This is a summary of some useful points we believe are worth sharing with practices across Wessex Some patients may...
Duration of Prescriptions and 7 day Prescribing
This is a recurrent issue and something that we are contacted about at the office on a regular basis with GPs and practices asking whether or not there is any obligation to provide prescriptions for seven days of medication. The answer is no - but never say never. There will be times when a...
Electronic Prescribing EPS and eRD inc. Remote consultations
Electronic Prescribing Service - EPS NHS Digital are continuing to drive Electronic Prescribing. Electronic Prescribing Service - Phase 4 was deployed from 18th November 2019, initially to TPP SystmOne following a pilot in 2018. The roll out plans for EMIS, Vision and Microtest will follow....
Good Practice in Prescribing
This guidance was published by the GMC on 31st January and came into effect on 25th February 2013. In 'Good Medical Practice' it is stated - in providing care you must: Prescribe drugs or treatment including repeat prescriptions, only when you have adequate knowledge of the patient's health...
Hepatitis B and Occupational Health
This is a complex area and one that keep cropping up. If in doubt after reading this then please contact the office. 1. Is there a requirement under the Regulations to prescribe and administer Hepatitis B vaccination for occupational health purposes? The Regulations requires GPs to manage...
HPV Vaccination
All girls aged 12 to 13 are offered HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. The vaccine protects against cervical cancer. It's usually given to girls in year eight at schools in England. According to Cancer Research UK, cervical cancer is the...
Inclisiran
Inclisiran is a medication given by subcutaneous injection that is administered by a clinician, with the aim of reducing blood levels of Cholesterol. We have received several emails from practices about this medication, given the way it has been introduced. New medications are normally...
Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) and Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) The Medicines Act 1968 does not permit nurses who are not qualified prescribers to administer or supply prescription only medicines (POMs) unless one of three types of instruction are in place signed prescription signed Patient Specific Direction...
Patients Travelling Abroad - FAQs
Provision of medical care European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK. People traveling within Europe (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are advised to always carry an...
Pharmacy - Prescription Direction
'Prescription direction' occurs where a patient is being directed by their GP practice to a certain pharmacy to have their prescription dispensed. Patients have a free choice between any community pharmacy and in some cases, a GP dispensary. Actions by practices seeking to influence a patient's...
Prescribing & Consultations - Audio & Video Podcasts and Recorded Webinars
You can record your reflections on this form or via your learning diary here: https://www.fourteenfish.com/about/learningdiary CQC are particularly keen to see any evidence of your listening and how you apply it. Safe Working, it's what the BMA say we should do, but how? Dr Will Howard,...
Prescribing - Self Prescribing & Family Members
The LMC has been made aware of a number of GPs who have been reported to the GMC for self-prescribing. The LMC would strongly advise GPs not to prescribe for themselves or their family, except in exceptional circumstance. The areas of high risk are controlled drugs, psychiatric medication and...
Prescribing - Nurseries, schools and OTC Medications
Non-prescription (OTC) medication does not need a GP signature/authorisation in order for the school/nursery/childminder to give it. It has been brought to the attention of the GPC Clinical and Prescribing Subcommittee that the revised 'The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework',...
Prescribing - Unlicensed Medicines
The term 'unlicensed medicine' is used to describe medicines that are used outside the terms of their UK licence or which have no licence for use in the UK. Unlicensed medicines are in common use especially in paediatrics, psychiatry and palliative care. You may prescribe unlicensed medicines...
Requests to convert private prescriptions to NHS FP10
Under NHS GMS Regulations the patient is entitled to receive any drug which is available on the NHS, via an NHS prescription. Therefore, GPs can convert a private script to an FP10 if the patient requests this. However, the GMC duty to prescribe only in the best interests of the patient and...
The Drug Tariff
The Drug Tariff is produced monthly by the Pharmaceutical Directorate of the NHS Business Services Authority, NHS Prescription Services for the Secretary of State and states: what will be paid to pharmacy contractors for NHS services provided either for reimbursement (the cost of the drugs,...
The Emergency Doctors Bag
What drugs should I carry or have accessible? GPs must be able to defend themselves on grounds of good clinical practice. Different practices operate in different settings with different resources around them i.e. a GP practising in a remote rural setting will have different considerations from...
When No PSD or PGD is needed
Emergency Drug Exemptions The following list of medicines for use by parenteral administration, are exempt from PGDs, prescriptions or PSDs when administered for the purpose of saving life in an emergency: Doses are not specified in the legislation Adrenaline 1:1000 up to 1mg for...
