NHS prescription forms

This introduces medicines supply in the community and covers the background details. National Health Service (NHS) prescription forms and the restrictions placed on different NHS prescribers in the community, including the role of the UK Drug Tariffs, are discussed. 

This introduces the different NHS prescribers (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse, supplementary prescribes etc.) within the community. Following on from this are details of the dispensing process to be followed when supplying medicines against NHS prescription forms, along with a collection of worked examples. 

SCOPE The reception of all NHS prescription forms brought into the pharmacy by patients or their representatives Prescription forms received in bulk (prescription form collection service) or those received by telephone call are excluded from this SOP... 

OBJECTIVES To ensure that each prescription form is legally valid and is suitable and safe for the patient thus meeting all expected legal and professional standards To ensure the prescription item(s) are allowed to be prescribed on NHS prescription forms... 

SCOPE Assessing all NHS prescription forms from any practitioner for validity, safely, legality and clinical suitability... 

Probably the most common form of prescription supply within community pharmacy is via an NHS prescription form. There are many differing NHS prescription forms in use within the UK, but most follow a similar layout to that shown in Figure 2.1 (front) and Figure 2.2 (back). 

As can be seen from the previous sections, there are a large number of different prescription forms in use within the UK. However, the prescription forms all follow a basic similar layout as shown in Figure 2.3, which shows a standard NHS prescription form with an indication of where different pieces of information are located. 

All NHS prescription forms will require certain pieces of information to be present. These are as follows (see also Figure 2.3). 

Figure 2.3 The layout of a standard NHS prescription form with an indication of where different pieces of information are located.

Particulars to indicate whether the prescriber is a doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist or other prescriber need to be included on the prescription form. This does not have to be (and indeed on an NHS prescription form usually is not) the... 

Community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are predominantly concerned with the supply of medicines on NHS prescription forms via a registered pharmacy. However, this is not the only method of the supply of medicines against a prescription form within the community and it is important that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are aware of how patients may obtain medicines or appliances other than through pharmacies. 

As well as dispensing doctors, appliance contractors also provide items against NHS prescription forms within the community. In this case, the items supplied are appliances (stoma equipment, etc.) and not drugs. 

One of the most important non-clinical reference sources for the supply of items on an NHS prescription form is the Drug Tariff. Produced monthly, the Drug Tariff is the guide as to what can and cannot be prescribed on an NHS prescription form. In addition, it also provides information on the amount pharmacies will be reimbursed and remunerated for dispensing items on NHS prescription forms and performing other NHS services. 

The first part provides some background information on what may and may not be supplied via an NHS prescription form and some background information on claims for payments. 

This lists the professional fees pharmacies will be paid for supplying various items via NHS prescription forms. Almost all items dispensed on an NHS prescription form will attract a flat fee, which will be supplemented by an additional fee for certain items. 

This part includes information on providing a suitable container for items supplied via an NHS prescription form. To cover the cost of containers and other items which may need to be supplied to patients (for example, a 5-mL plastic measuring spoon) every prescription (except an oxygen prescription) will attract a flat fee for supplying a container, whether or not one was supplied. 

This part lists those appliances which may be prescribed on an NHS prescription form. Further details on this part can be found in Section 2.5.2. 

You receive an NHS prescription form at your pharmacy in England for the following two items ... 

Dentists may only prescribe items listed in Part XVIIA of the Drug Tariff on an NHS prescription form in England and Wales. Further details can be found in Section 3.2.2. 

Dentists may only prescribe, on an NHS prescription form, those items listed in the Dental Practitioners Formulary (DPF) in the Drug Tariff. 

In a similar way to dental prescribing on an NHS prescription form, certain nurses (termed community practitioner nurse prescribers) may... 

This lists those appliances that may be prescribed on an NHS prescription form and is similar in composition to Part IXA of the Drug Tariff for England and Wales (see Section 2.4.1). 

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