Derbyshire Repeat Prescription Management Code of Practice

The LPC has been represented on the Joint Area Prescribing Group (pan Derbyshire). One of the issues discussed at length has been the potential impact on medicines waste if pharmacies that operate a managed repeat prescription service fail to check that patients actually need the medication ordered. A code of practice has been agreed, which places certain responsibilities on pharmacies, GP practices and patients. A link to the code of practice can be found here.  If a practice has concerns that a particular pharmacy is failing to check patients’ actual needs as per the code of practice, individual  practices may ultimately decide to debar the pharmacy from ordering prescriptions on behalf of their patients. If your pharmacy has good relationships with your local surgery and there are no identified issues with your current practice, it may be wise to have a conversation with the senior partner/s, to seek agreement for current satisfactory arrangements to continue. As you may be aware, some CCGs have decided to cease the use of this type of service and move to a ‘Prescription Ordering Direct’ (POD) system. Adherence to the code of practice could avert this.