Ignorance impedes supplementary prescribing
Some pharmacists are confused about who can prescribe what |
Some pharmacists are refusing to dispense prescriptions written by supplementary prescribers, it has emerged, most likely because they are not properly informed about how the scheme works.
Beth Taylor, specialist pharmacist, community health, London Specialist
Pharmacy Services, told The Journal that the LSPS supplementary support
team has received feedback from both pharmacist and nurse supplementary
prescribers saying that some pharmacists are refusing to dispense prescriptions
written by them.
Mrs Taylor explained that it appears that some pharmacists do not realise
that non-medical prescribers can prescribe any item in the BNF without
being restricted to particular formularies within it. They also seem
to have concerns about how to tell if a pharmacist is qualified as a
supplementary prescriber, or if a nurse is an extended formulary or a
supplementary prescriber. Some pharmacists are also concerned that they
might not be reimbursed for supplying prescribed items, or that the prescriptions
were not legal.
Sue Kilby, head of practice at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented
that pharmacists who have access to the internet can check whether pharmacists
are registered as supplementary prescribers on the Society’s website.
To check a nurse’s prescribing status, pharmacists need to contact
the Nursing and Midwifery Council. However, Mrs Kilby pointed out that
this requires pharmacists to apply for a caller code which may take up
to seven days to arrive, so pharmacists might want to register in anticipation
of receiving nurse prescriptions.
Mrs Taylor said that it is important that pharmacists perform a clinical
check on supplementary prescriptions in the same way that they should
for all prescriptions.
“At this point in time it is important that we maintain and develop
good professional relationships between nurses and pharmacists. We need
to
work to overcome these teething problems,” she added.
These concerns were among a number raised at a meeting of supplementary
prescribers in London last week, which will be covered in more detail
in next week’s Journal. Other concerns discussed include the support
available to prescribers following qualification, GP computer systems
not supporting supplementary prescribing and problems surrounding clinical
management plans. |
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