Written requisitions

This chapter covers similar material to Chapters 2 and 3, focusing on non-NHS supply, including the supply of medication against private prescription forms and the supply of medication via oral and written requisitions. 

Supplies of medication will normally take place via a written requisition (colloquially known as a signed order, although the term is somewhat misleading as most written requisitions do not actually need to be signed). However, it is also permissible for some individuals to request medication supply verbally. The oral requisition of medication is covered in Section 5.3. 

When supplying medication via a written requisition, it should be noted that only complete packs (including any patient information leaflets) can be supplied. As the medication is usually not for a specific patient (at the point the requisition is made), there is no need to label the medication. If the medication were for a specific patient, it would be usual to issue a patient-specific prescription form (either an NHS or non-NHS (private) prescription form). 

The controls over retail sale of medicines do not apply to the above practitioners. A doctor or dentist may offer to supply or sell prescription-only medicines to a patient or patient s carer (and similar arrangements apply to veterinary practitioners/surgeons for animals or herds under their care). Supplies may be obtained from pharmacies by way of wholesale dealing and requested via a written requisition. 

In addition to written requests by a variety of healthcare practitioners and other authorised individuals (see Section 5.2), some requests for the supply of medication do not have to be written down (i.e. via a written requisition). These are termed oral requisitions. 

Identity of order Written requisition. Although this is a written requisition for a medicine, as it is from an optometrist for a specific patient (see Section 5.2.7), the pharmacists still has a professional obligation to ensure that the medicine is safe and suitable for the patient. 

Requisitions for controlled drugs follow the same basic format as for other written requisitions (see Section 5.2). The following individuals may be supplied with a Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 controlled drug via a written requisition (remember that prescribers cannot normally obtain or prescribe Schedule 1 controlled drugs without the authority of a Home Office licence) ... 

Although it is not a legal requirement to provide a requisition where one community pharmacy supplies another community pharmacy, as good practice, a written requisition should be obtained. This requisition should also be submitted to the PPD (or equivalent) for processing. 

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