The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004

Restrictions on prescribing by medical practitioners

40.—(1) In the course of treating a patient to whom a medical practitioner is providing treatment under the contract, the medical practitioner shall not order on a prescription form a drug, medicine or other substance specified in any directions given by the Scottish Ministers under section 17N(6) of the Act (Other mandatory contract terms)(1) as being drugs, medicines or other substances which may not be ordered for patients in the provision of medical services under the contract but may, subject to regulation 24(2)(b), prescribe such a drug or other substance for that patient in the course of that treatment under a private arrangement.

(2) In the course of treating a patient to whom a medical practitioner is providing treatment under the contract, the medical practitioner shall not order on a prescription form a drug, medicine or other substance specified in any directions given by the Scottish Ministers under section 17N(6) of the Act as being a drug, medicine or other substance which can only be ordered for specified patients and specified purposes unless—

(a) that patient is a person of the specified description;

(b) that drug, medicine or other substance is prescribed for that patient only for the specified purpose; and

(c) the practitioner endorses the form with the reference “SLS”,

but may, subject to regulation 24(2)(b), prescribe such a drug, medicine or other substance for that patient in the course of that treatment under a private arrangement.

(3) In the course of treating a patient to whom a medical practitioner is providing treatment under the contract, the medical practitioner shall not order on a prescription form a restricted availability appliance unless—

(a) the patient is a person, or it is for a purpose, specified in the Drug Tariff; and

(b) the practitioner endorses the face of the form with the reference “SLS”,

but may, subject to regulation 24(2)(b), prescribe such an appliance for that patient in the course of that treatment under a private arrangement.

(1)

Section 17N was inserted by the 2004 Act, section 4.