Essential Services

Dispensing Prescriptions

We dispense NHS prescriptions (paper and electronic) and will give advice on how to get the most benefit from your medicines. We keep a comprehensive stock of medicines and use an efficient wholesaler service to enable us to dispense all prescriptions promptly. We can also dispense NHS repeat dispensing prescriptions. Ask us for more information about this service. Our staff can also advise you on safe storage of medicines.


Emergency supply

In the case of urgency, the supplier of appliances may supply an appliance if asked to do so by a prescriber as long as the prescriber undertakes to issue a prescription to the dispenser within 72 hours (or transmit an electronic prescription). In practice, this change is likely to have little impact.


Unwanted medicines

Please return all unwanted medicines to the pharmacy, where we will dispose of them safely.


Repeat dispensing

Repeat dispensing is an alternative model for prescribing and dispensing regular medicines and appliances to patients on stable long-term treatment. Repeat supplies of medication may be managed by the patient's pharmacy. The prescriber produces a repeatable prescription and a set of identical 'batch' forms - the number required, is equal to the number of times the prescription is to be repeated and this is to be indicated on the form, for example, 1 of X, 2 of X.

Repeat dispensing is an alternative model for prescribing and dispensing regular medicines and appliances to patients on stable long-term treatment. Repeat supplies of appliances may be managed by the patient's chosen supplier of appliances. The prescriber produces a repeatable prescription and a set of identical 'batch' forms - the number required, is equal to the number of times the prescription is to be repeated and this is to be indicated on the form, for example, 1 of X, 2 of X.

Each repeatable prescription can be dispensed at regular intervals, for example, monthly for a period of up to twelve months. However, an NHS repeatable prescription needs to be dispensed for the first time within six months of being written and can then only be dispensed subsequently for up to a year from being written or until any expiry date specified by the prescriber, whichever is less.

A dispensing interval does not have to be set by the prescriber, so that the supplier has maximum flexibility to make a professional decision when to dispense the next supply for the patient. This is of particular benefit for patients with certain appliances or for patients that may be travelling and require an additional supply of their items ahead of time.

The aims and intended service outcomes for repeat dispensing is:

Stoma appliance customisation must be provided at an 'acceptable location' as specified below:

  • To increase patient choice and convenience, by allowing them to obtain their regular prescribed medicines and appliances directly from a supplier of their choice for a period agreed by the prescriber.
  • To minimise wastage by reducing the number of medicines and appliances dispensed which are not required by the patient.
  • To reduce the workload of General Medical Practices, by lowering the burden of managing repeat prescriptions.

A detailed service specification was developed for the implementation of this service element into the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in 2005. This can be found on NHS Primary Care Commissioning website.


Record keeping

The pharmacy must keep accurate records of all supplies made to patients. The purpose of the records is to ensure there is an accurate audit trail for items supplied, and also to assist pharmacy to provide advice and support to patients with regard to their medication or appliances supplied, provide continuing care for patients, and document any interventions or referrals made during the dispensing process.


Home Delivery of Medication, Stoma and Appliances

As a Distant Selling Pharmacy, we deliver (free) to the patients preferred address.

A reasonable supply of wipes and disposal bags for qualifying items also need to be supplied against all items that are indicated in the drug tariff part IXA (qualifying items*), B & C. It is indicated that a reasonable supply would be a one for one ratio for actual number of stoma or continence bags verses the free bags and wipes. i.e. 1 box of 30 stoma bags would provide 30 disposal bags and wipes.


Referrals and signposting

If the pharmacy cannot dispense an item prescribed, for example it is out of stock, or cannot provide the required stoma appliance customisation, then he or she must - with the patient's consent - refer the prescription form or repeatable prescription to another pharmacy or supplier.

If the patient does not consent to this, then the supplier of appliances must provide contact details for at least two other suppliers (if he or she has the details) that may be able to dispense the required item or service. If the supplier of appliances is unable to provide the AUR service then he/she must give the patient the contact details of at least two people who are suppliers of appliances who are able to arrange for the service to be provided, if these details are known to the supplier.

There is a requirement to ensure that pharmacy contractors provide appropriate advice to patients about any medication, stoma or incontinence appliance provided to them in order to enable them to utilise, store and dispose of the medication and appliance appropriately.

Advice may already be available by some pharmacies, however arrangements must be in place for giving appropriate advice, both written and verbal, when patients order their appliance and when the items are dispensed. This can be provided through a telephone care line. PCs and DACs must also ensure that a patient may consult, if the patient so wishes, someone to obtain expert advice regarding the appliance being dispensed.


Clinical Governance

In 2005, the DH introduced a new 'Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework' and as part of this framework Pharmacy Contractors had to operate their business in a clinical governance framework. From April 2010 this clinical governance framework was extend to Dispensing Appliance Contractors. It is designed to ensure that all paperwork and procedures are in place to enable a relevant monitoring and audit to be carried out by the regulating body and also ensure both patient and contractor accountability.


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