NPA Game Plan - National pharmacy association

12
Repeat prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions are allowed under similar circumstances to UK prescriptions.
The following conditions must be met:
The first dispensing of a prescription-only medicine should be made within six months of the
date on which it was signed or within 28 days for a Schedule 4 CD.
Any dispensing instructions of the prescribing EEA/Swiss doctor or dentist should
be followed.
If the number of repeats is not specified, the prescription can only be repeated once
(dispensed twice in total). The only exception is when oral contraceptives have been ordered
on a repeatable prescription in which case it can be dispensed a total of six times (five
repeats) before the end of the period of six months from the appropriate date.
Record keeping
Dispensed EEA/Swiss prescriptions need to be recorded in the prescription-only medicine
register in the same way as private prescriptions issued by UK-registered prescribers.
Any emergency supplies made to EEA/Swiss patients should also to be recorded in the
same manner to existing requirements.
It is good practice to document any appropriate checks that have been carried out to
determine the authenticity of prescribers and/or actual prescriptions.
Wholesale dealing
EEA/Swiss doctors and dentists CANNOT request medicinal products by way of wholesale
from a UK registered pharmacy.
Charging for services
EEA/Swiss prescriptions are private prescriptions. The charges levied to the patient are a
matter for individual pharmacists and may incorporate extra expenses incurred, such as
telephone calls.
Information about Foreign Prescribers
Doctors
The GMC has a document on its website (see link below) that contains the contact details
of the equivalent competent authorities within the relevant EEA member state. The GMC
can also be contacted directly on 0161 9236602.
www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/registration_applications/evidence_of_qualifications.asp
Dentists
The GDC has a similar feature on its website (see link below) that also details the contact
information of the equivalent competent authority within the relevant EEA member state.
Alternatively the GDC can also be contacted directly on 0845 2224141.
www.gdc-uk.org/dentalprofessionals/applyforregistration/documents/
list of eea competent authorities.pdf