The National Health Service Executive has belatedly advised pharmacists of changes to the use of instalment prescriptions by hospital outpatient departments for treating drug addicts.
In a letter to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Secretary and Registrar (Miss Ann Lewis) on October 11, the acting chief pharmacist (Mrs Jeanette Howe) said that changes had been made in April, 1998, but that they had not been widely publicised.
She said that FP10HP(AD) forms had been revised so that hospital prescribers could prescribe up to 14 days instalment treatment with any drug listed in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985. Community pharmacists would be reimbursed and paid appropriate fees if they dispensed such prescriptions.
Mrs Howe added that the Prescription Pricing Authority would write to community pharmacists about the change.