GPhC Pharmacy Law and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient requests their community pharmacist to provide a copy of their Summary Care Record (SCR). Under what circumstances can the pharmacist access the SCR?
- At any time for any patient registered at a nearby GP surgery
- Only with the patient's informed consent and for direct patient care purposes (Correct answer)
- Only in emergency situations when the patient is unconscious
- Whenever the pharmacist believes it would benefit the patient
Correct answer: Only with the patient's informed consent and for direct patient care purposes
Pharmacists can access the SCR with the patient's informed consent for the purpose of providing direct patient care. This includes understanding the patient's medication history, allergies, and adverse reactions. Access without consent is only permitted in specific emergency circumstances.
Question 2: Under the Equality Act 2010, a pharmacy must make reasonable adjustments for disabled patients. Which of the following is an example of a reasonable adjustment?
- Refusing to serve patients who cannot communicate verbally
- Providing written information in large print for a visually impaired patient (Correct answer)
- Requiring all patients to collect prescriptions in person
- Charging extra for home delivery to disabled patients
Correct answer: Providing written information in large print for a visually impaired patient
The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage. Providing large print information is a practical adjustment that removes a barrier to accessing pharmacy services.
Question 3: What is the responsible pharmacist's legal obligation regarding the pharmacy's standard operating procedures (SOPs)?
- SOPs are optional guidelines that may be followed at discretion
- The responsible pharmacist must ensure SOPs are in place and are followed during their period of responsibility (Correct answer)
- SOPs only need to be reviewed annually by the superintendent pharmacist
- SOPs are only required for controlled drug dispensing
Correct answer: The responsible pharmacist must ensure SOPs are in place and are followed during their period of responsibility
Under the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008, the responsible pharmacist must ensure that appropriate SOPs are in place and are being followed during the period they are the responsible pharmacist. This is a legal, not merely professional, requirement.
Question 4: A prescriber telephones a pharmacy to request an emergency supply of a Prescription Only Medicine. Under what condition can the pharmacist legally make this supply?
- Only if the prescriber provides a verbal prescription for any medicine
- The prescriber must undertake to furnish a prescription within 72 hours, and the drug must not be a Schedule 1, 2, or 3 controlled drug (Correct answer)
- The pharmacist can supply any medicine on a doctor's verbal request without restrictions
- Emergency supplies from prescriber requests are not permitted under UK law
Correct answer: The prescriber must undertake to furnish a prescription within 72 hours, and the drug must not be a Schedule 1, 2, or 3 controlled drug
Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a pharmacist can make an emergency supply at the request of a prescriber provided the prescriber undertakes to furnish a prescription within 72 hours. Schedule 1, 2, and 3 controlled drugs (except phenobarbital for epilepsy) cannot be supplied this way.
Question 5: Which body is responsible for investigating fitness to practise concerns about registered pharmacists in Great Britain?
- The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) (Correct answer)
- NHS England
- The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Correct answer: The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
The GPhC is the independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises in Great Britain. It investigates fitness to practise concerns and can impose sanctions including removal from the register. The RPS is the professional body but has no regulatory powers.
Question 6: A pharmacist suspects a prescription has been forged. What is the most appropriate initial action?
- Dispense the prescription but alert the police afterwards
- Refuse to dispense, retain the prescription, and contact the prescriber to verify its authenticity (Correct answer)
- Return the prescription to the patient and ask them to get a new one
- Dispense half the quantity as a compromise
Correct answer: Refuse to dispense, retain the prescription, and contact the prescriber to verify its authenticity
If a pharmacist suspects forgery, they should not dispense the prescription. The prescription should be retained and the prescriber contacted to verify authenticity. If forgery is confirmed, the police should be informed. Dispensing a suspected forged prescription could facilitate drug misuse and is a breach of professional duty.
GPhC Pharmacy Law and Ethics 2
A patient requests their community pharmacist to provide a copy of their Summary Care Record (SCR).
Under what circumstances can the pharmacist access the SCR?