The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7492 p267
8 March 2008

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News summary

New prescription security advice issued by NHS SMS

Guidance for pharmacists in England on what they can do to improve prescription security advises them to get sample signatures from all prescribers in their locality.

The guidance, issued by the NHS Security Management Service, says that dispensing pharmacists should try to verify all prescriptions for drugs that are liable to misuse, and not only prescriptions for Controlled Drugs.
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“Unusual or expensive items and large doses or quantities should always be checked with the prescriber to ensure that the prescription is genuine,” it notes. “This includes making call-backs on all phoned-in emergency prescriptions and checking doctors’ names and phone numbers. Pharmacists should also keep a file of doctors in their jurisdiction (sic), with contact information and sample signatures.”

The same data about non-medical prescribers is also expected to be kept to hand.