New pharmacy CD inspection arrangements remain to be finalised
New arrangements for Royal Pharmaceutical Society inspections
of the handling of Controlled Drugs in community pharmacies remain to be finalised
(PJ, 18 March, p309).
Currently, the expectation is that inspections of pharmacies in England
will begin on 1 July (not 1 April as we reported last month).
Mandie Lavin, the Society’s director of fitness to practise and
legal affairs, said: “The arrangements for Scotland and Wales are
still under discussion.”
The precise date for the implementation of the new governance arrangements
for CDs will depend on the passage of legislation by Parliament.
However, pharmacists and prescribers will be expected to adhere to new
procedures and guidelines for prescribing and dispensing CDs from 1 April,
even though there will be no underpinning legislation until later in
the year (PJ, March 18, p307).
The Prescription Pricing Division of the NHS Business Services Authority
will start monitoring CD dispensing from that date.
In order to make this possible, pharmacists will be expected to send
photocopies of all private CD prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs
to the PPD. Once the legislation has been passed, they will have to send
the original prescription and keep photocopies for their own records. |
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