Further changes to the management of CDs expected in the future
The Government's response to the fourth report of the Shipman Inquiry outlined a number of further changes to the management of CDs. These changes are expected to occur some time in the future, and further guidance will be provided when required.
· A pilot for patient drug record cards (PDRCs) has been carried out.
An evaluation from this pilot will inform whether such a system should
be rolled out nationally. If successful, PDRCs could become a legal requirement
for all Schedule 2 injectable CDs. A PDRC will provide a record of how
much of a CD is prescribed, dispensed, what is received in the patient’s
home, how much is administered, what is left and what is returned for
safe destruction
· Software for electronic transmission of prescriptions (the Electronic
Prescription Service) will capture both the time of issue of a prescription
and the time at which the dispensed CDs are handed to the patient
· Information about prescribers who have restrictions placed on their
prescribing of CDs will be made accessible to all pharmacies over time
· The prescriber identifier, for both private and NHS prescriptions,
will be recorded electronically in the CD register
· The name and professional ID of the pharmacist or dispensing doctor
who dispenses a Schedule 2 CD will be recorded electronically in the
CD register
· Any prescriptions for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs will contain a patient identifier.
This is likely to be the patient’s NHS number and will apply to
both NHS and non-NHS prescriptions — this is currently good practice
· Once electronic CD registers are in common use they will become mandatory.
When this happens keeping a running balance will also become a mandatory
requirement. When electronic CD registers become mandatory they will
be expected to be kept for up to 11 years
· All health care organisations, including GP practices and community
pharmacies, will be required to send information on their CD requisitions
to the relevant NHS agency
· CD prescriptions will be identifiable via a special marker
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