GPhC Dispensing Practice & Controlled Drugs 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What action is required if a community pharmacist identifies a prescription that appears to be forged?
- Retain the prescription, contact the prescriber to verify, and report to police/NHS Controlled Drugs team if confirmed forgery (Correct answer)
- Dispense and report later
- Return it to the patient and ask them to get a new one
- Call the GPhC immediately
Correct answer: Retain the prescription, contact the prescriber to verify, and report to police/NHS Controlled Drugs team if confirmed forgery
A forged CD prescription should not be dispensed. The pharmacist should retain it (it is evidence), verify with the prescriber, and report to police/NHS CD Accountable Officer if forgery is confirmed.
Question 2: Under EPS, what is a 'nomination' in the context of repeat prescriptions?
- A patient's chosen pharmacy where electronic prescriptions are sent automatically (Correct answer)
- An authorisation for a pharmacist to prescribe
- A formal GP referral
- A standing order for monthly supply
Correct answer: A patient's chosen pharmacy where electronic prescriptions are sent automatically
EPS nomination allows patients to nominate a specific pharmacy to receive their electronic prescriptions automatically, removing the need to collect paper prescriptions from the GP.
Question 3: A dispensing error results in a patient receiving the wrong dose. What immediate steps must be taken?
- Recall the dispensed medicine, inform the patient and assess for harm, report through incident system, and document (Correct answer)
- Only document the error internally
- Inform only the prescriber
- Wait to see if the patient reports symptoms
Correct answer: Recall the dispensed medicine, inform the patient and assess for harm, report through incident system, and document
Immediate steps include: recalling the incorrect item, contacting and informing the patient, assessing for harm, appropriate clinical management if needed, and internal/external incident reporting.
Question 4: What is the maximum number of days' supply typically permitted for Schedule 2 CD prescriptions in primary care?
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 14 days
- 60 days
- No legal limit but clinical governance applies
Correct answer: 30 days
There is no absolute legal maximum for CD prescription supply, but NHS guidance and good practice recommend no more than 30 days' supply at a time to limit stockpiling risk.
Question 5: Buprenorphine patches used for pain management are classified in which CD schedule?
- Schedule 3 (Correct answer)
- Schedule 2
- Schedule 4
- Schedule 5
Correct answer: Schedule 3
Buprenorphine is a Schedule 3 CD. Unlike Schedule 2 CDs, it does not require a CD register entry in community pharmacy but does require safe custody.
Question 6: What does the term 'near miss' mean in pharmacy dispensing?
- An error that was caught before it reached the patient (Correct answer)
- An error that caused patient harm
- A complaint from a patient
- A stock ordering mistake
Correct answer: An error that was caught before it reached the patient
A near miss is an incident where an error occurred during dispensing but was intercepted before reaching the patient. Reporting near misses is vital for learning and improving safety systems.
GPhC Dispensing Practice & Controlled Drugs 3
What action is required if a community pharmacist identifies a prescription that appears to be forged?