National patient group direction allows urgent supplies of repeat medicines
Pharmacists in Scotland are to be authorised to provide emergency supplies of a full cycle of patients' regular medicines instead of being limited to a five-day supply.
The mechanism that will allow such supplies is a national patient group
direction (PGD) that operates in the out-of-hours period. Pharmacists
who have signed up to the PGD will be able to make a supply of nearly
everything in the British National Formulary, providing the patient has
had a repeat prescription for the medicines before from an NHS doctor
in Scotland.
Overall responsibility for the PGD lies with NHS24 and local implementation
will be carried out by NHS boards. Harry McQuillan, national pharmaceutical
adviser at NHS24, said: “This initiative allows pharmacy to build
upon the already significant contribution it makes to patient care within
the out-of-hours period and during public holidays.”
A new prescription form — a community pharmacy urgent supply or
CP(US) form — will be used to record the details of supplies made
using the PGD. It will be sent to GPs to alert them of the supply and
be submitted to Practitioner Services for payment.
In addition to this reimbursement, every community pharmacy contractor
is to be paid a £300 fee for the period from Christmas to the end
of February.
This is intended to recognise the
additional workload resulting from a
reduction in GP surgery hours and the Scottish Executive’s winter
campaign. It takes into account the findings of the SPGC inquiry into
the impact of the new GP contract on pharmacy workload in the out-of-hours
period.
Frank Owens, chairman of the SPGC, said that the introduction of the
new GP out-of-hours arrangements had brought fresh challenges for community
pharmacy.
“With GP surgeries closed for eight days over the coming festive
fortnight, there will be further pressures,” he predicted. “The
beauty of this new arrangement is that it will allow community pharmacists
the
opportunity to exercise their professional judgement and provide, where
appropriate, a full repeat supply in a single transaction.”
The new PGD will be revised by the Scottish Executive Health Department
and the SPGC in March.
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