GPhC Pharmacy Law & Ethics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal basis for a pharmacist to make an emergency supply of a POM without a prescription?
- The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 allow emergency supply at patient or prescriber request under defined conditions (Correct answer)
- The Medicines Act 1968 allows unlimited emergency supply
- Emergency supply is always illegal without a prescription
- Only doctors can authorise emergency supply
Correct answer: The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 allow emergency supply at patient or prescriber request under defined conditions
Pharmacists can make an emergency supply under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 when a prescriber cannot be contacted or the patient urgently needs continuation of chronic therapy, subject to conditions.
Question 2: A patient requests a repeat prescription service through the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). What is EPS?
- A system for electronic transfer of prescriptions between prescriber, dispenser, and NHS Business Services Authority (Correct answer)
- A system for ordering pharmacy stock
- An NHS app for patients only
- A drug information database
Correct answer: A system for electronic transfer of prescriptions between prescriber, dispenser, and NHS Business Services Authority
EPS allows prescriptions to be sent electronically from GP practices to dispensing contractors (pharmacies), reducing paper and improving efficiency of the dispensing cycle.
Question 3: Which of the following is a legal requirement on a private prescription for a Schedule 2 CD?
- The prescriber's address, signature, date, and full name and address of the patient (Correct answer)
- Only the prescriber's name and date
- Only the patient's name and drug dose
- A GP surgery stamp only
Correct answer: The prescriber's address, signature, date, and full name and address of the patient
CD prescriptions (Schedule 2 and 3) must include: prescriber name, address, and signature; patient name and address; drug, dose, form, total quantity; and date — all legally required.
Question 4: Under GPhC standards, a pharmacist must maintain their competence through:
- Continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to their scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Attending one training course per decade
- Reading pharmacy journals only
- Annual GPhC examinations
Correct answer: Continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to their scope of practice
GPhC standards require all pharmacy professionals to maintain and develop their competence through ongoing CPD activities relevant to their current professional role and scope.
Question 5: What action should a pharmacist take if they receive a prescription they believe is for excessive quantities intended for misuse?
- Use professional judgement, potentially contact the prescriber, and decline to dispense if misuse is suspected (Correct answer)
- Dispense all prescriptions regardless of quantity
- Report to police without contacting the prescriber first
- Only dispense half the quantity
Correct answer: Use professional judgement, potentially contact the prescriber, and decline to dispense if misuse is suspected
Pharmacists have a professional duty to exercise judgement. Contacting the prescriber, assessing context, and refusing if misuse is suspected are all appropriate professional responses.
GPhC Pharmacy Law & Ethics 4
What is the legal basis for a pharmacist to make an emergency supply of a POM without a prescription?