Pharmacy name and

address
SOP prepared by SOP reviewed by
(full name and role) (full name and role)
Signature Signature
Date SOP prepared SOP reviewed date
SOP version number SOP version number

Scope
 This SOP sets out the process for conducting legal and clinical checks of prescriptions
 This SOP does not cover:
o Other aspects of the dispensing process – refer to relevant SOP
o Conducting legal and clinical checks of veterinary prescriptions – refer to the relevant SOP

Guidance
 IMPORTANT: The RP must be signed in to be able to undertake a legal and clinical check of a prescription
 Refer to the “delegation of responsibilities” notes to ensure that for each action/activity to be delegated, it
takes into account the competency of the relevant team member to carry out that action/activity
 Refer to the relevant NPA resources and guidance documents for checking the legal requirements for
prescriptions, including EEA prescriptions — available from the NPA website SOPs section

Legal check
 NHS and private prescriptions are valid for 6 months
 NHS and private prescriptions for Schedule 2, 3 or 4 Controlled Drugs (CDs) are valid for 28 days
 Private repeat prescriptions are legally valid until either all repeats have been dispensed or in accordance with
the prescriber’s directions as long as the initial dispensing occurs within 28 days of the appropriate date for
Schedule 4 CDs and six months for other items
o However, it may not always be clinically appropriate to dispense outstanding repeats if a significant period of
time has elapsed since the prescription was issued as the patient’s health may have changed; the prescriber
should be contacted to verify if the prescribed item is still clinically suitable for the patient
 Ensure the prescriber is entitled to prescribe the item(s) on the presenting prescription form (NHS/private), by
checking their registration entry on the relevant regulatory body website:
o Dentists: https://www.gdc-uk.org/
o Doctors: www.gmc.org.uk
o Nurses and midwifes: www.nmc.org.uk
o Other: www.hcpc-uk.co.uk
o EEA and Swiss prescribers: The General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council (GDC) have
contact details of equivalent EEA regulatory bodies on their website

Clinical check
 The clinical assessment should be conducted before the accuracy check. Check the patient’s suitability for the
prescribed treatment using appropriate sources; for example, PMR, Summary Care Record (SCR), speak with the
patient etc.
 When making the clinical assessment, take the following into consideration to determine the appropriateness of
item(s) prescribed for patient’s condition:
© The National Pharmacy Association July 2017
 o Specific patient groups, including children, elderly, pregnant/breastfeeding women, immunocompromised or
palliative care patients
o Presence of concomitant disease, for example, renal and/or hepatic impairment that may require dose
adjustments
o Known allergies, dietary intolerances, personal preferences or requirements due to religious beliefs
o Contraindications and special warnings for use
o Interactions, including other prescribed or over-the-counter item(s),herbal remedies, supplements, or
products purchased online
o Item(s) particulars, such as dose, form, administration route, quantity prescribed
o For high risk medicines, such as anticoagulant therapy, insulin, methotrexate or lithium, refer to the relevant
patient safety SOPs
 Use appropriate references to obtain clinical information; these may include:
o Summary of Product Characteristics – available via the eMC website (www.medicines.org.uk) or the
Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website (www.mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil)
o The British National Formulary (BNF) and The British National Formulary for Children (BNFC)
o NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) guidelines
o External reference sources, for example, the NPA Pharmacy Services team on 01272 891 800

Prescription interventions
 In circumstances where the prescription is not clinically appropriate to dispense, and an intervention is made,
record the actions taken / advice given / interventions and referrals made where considered clinically
appropriate – it is a contractual requirement to make these records in England and Wales
 Consider the potential for an Intervention Medicine Use Review (MUR) if appropriate – refer to relevant MUR
SOP

Suspicion of fraudulent prescription

 If presented with a fraudulent or suspicious prescription, do not dispense item(s) and call the prescriber to
confirm if it is genuine; if prescription is not genuine, retain prescription and inform relevant authorities and
follow advice given

Refusal to supply NHS prescriptions

 Pharmacists can only refuse to supply an NHS prescription in accordance with their NHS Terms of Service, for
example, the person presenting the prescription threatens or subjects pharmacy staff with violence, or commits
or threatens to commit a criminal offence

© The National Pharmacy Association July 2017

 Check that the prescription Inform patient/
complies with legal representative of the
requirements Does not reason why the
comply prescription cannot be
dispensed
Complies

Confirm the prescription is Contact prescriber to Refer the patient or

genuine confirm if genuine if representative back to
suspected that the the prescriber or liaise
prescription is with the prescriber
NHS fraudulent directly
prescription

Confirm the item(s) is/are Inform patient/

allowed on the form representative of the reason
Disallowed why the prescription cannot
Allowed be dispensed
Private
prescription

Consult the patient first

as they may be able to
provide clinically relevant
information
Clinically
appropriate
Confirm whether the treatment is appropriate for the No No
patient - P app
Inform the
Yes ropr
patient/representative
that there may be a iate
delay
Confirm whether the treatment is appropriate for the in dispensing the
No prescription
condition - P
Yes Patient agrees

Any drug-drug interactions and drug-disease Yes

Clinically Take steps to obtain
interactions - P
appropriate additional information
No and contact the
prescriber where
Any potential for misuse due to excessive prescribing - necessary
Yes
P
No
Complete a pharmacy
Referral & Intervention
form

Refer to
relevant
dispensing SOP

© The National Pharmacy Association July 2017