The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (General Medical Services) and (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment Regulations 2003

Amendment of Schedule 2

14.—(1) Schedule 2 (terms of service for doctors) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1 (interpretation), in the definition of “prescription form”, at the end insert “and does not include a repeatable prescription;”.

(3) In paragraph 19—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2), for “sub-paragraphs (3), (5) and (6)” substitute “sub-paragraphs (3), (5), (6) and (6A)”; and

(b) after sub-paragraph (6) insert—

“(6A) In the case of repeatable prescribing services, a repeatable prescribing doctor shall not arrange for the provision of such services by any person who is not a doctor.”.

(4) In paragraph 40, after “prescription” insert “or repeatable prescription”.

(5) In paragraph 42, after “prescription” insert “or repeatable prescription”.

(6) In paragraph 43 (prescribing)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) after “prescription form”, in the first place it appears, insert “or a repeatable prescription”, and

(ii) for “such a form” substitute “such a prescription form or repeatable prescription”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) A doctor may order drugs or appliances on a repeatable prescription only where the drugs or appliances so ordered are to be provided more than once.”;

(c) in sub-paragraph (2)—

(i) after “prescription form”, in both places, insert “or repeatable prescription”,

(ii) for “the form”, in both places, substitute “the prescription form or repeatable prescription”, and

(iii) in paragraph (a), for “prescription”, in both places, substitute “prescription form or repeatable prescription”;

(d) in sub-paragraph (3), for “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 (controlled drugs to which regulations 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 26 of those Regulations apply)”, substitute “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (controlled drugs to which regulations 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26 and 27 of those Regulations apply)”;

(e) in sub-paragraph (5)—

(i) after “prescription form”, in both places, insert “or repeatable prescription”, and

(ii) for “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985” substitute “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001”; and

(f) in sub-paragraph (6)—

(i) after “prescription form”, in both places, insert “or repeatable prescription”, and

(ii) for “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985” substitute “Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001”.

(7) After paragraph 43 insert—

“Repeatable prescribing services

43A.— (1) A doctor who issues a repeatable prescription must at the same time issue the appropriate number of batch issues.

(2) A doctor who has provided repeatable prescribing services to a person must, as soon as is practicable, notify that person, and make every effort to contact the chemist providing repeat dispensing services to that person, if—

(a) he makes any change to the type, quantity, strength or dosage of drugs or appliances ordered on that person’s repeatable prescription; or

(b) he considers that it is no longer appropriate or safe for that person to receive the drugs or appliances ordered on his repeatable prescription, or no longer appropriate or safe for him to continue to receive repeatable prescribing services.

(3) If a doctor provides repeatable prescribing services to a person in respect of whom he has previously issued a repeatable prescription which has not yet expired (for example, because that person wishes to obtain the drugs or appliances from a different chemist), the doctor must make every effort to notify the chemist which has in its possession the repeatable prescription which is no longer required.

(4) If a doctor has issued a repeatable prescription in respect of a person, and (before the expiry of that repeatable prescription) that person is removed from that doctor’s list of patients, that doctor must—

(a) notify that person; and

(b) make every effort to notify the chemist who has been providing repeat dispensing services to that person,

that the repeatable prescription should no longer be used to obtain or provide repeat dispensing services.”.

(8) In paragraph 44—

(a) after “prescription form”, in each of the places it appears, insert “or repeatable prescription”; and

(b) after sub-paragraph (3) add—

“(4) In the course of treating such a patient a doctor shall not order on a repeatable prescription a controlled drug within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, other than a drug which is for the time being specified in Schedule 4 or 5 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, but may otherwise prescribe such a drug for that patient in the course of that treatment.”.

(9) In paragraph 46, for “paragraphs 43 and 44” substitute “paragraphs 43, 43A and 44”.

(10) In paragraph 49 (inquiries about prescriptions and referrals), in sub-paragraph (1)(a), after “prescription form” insert “or repeatable prescription”.