The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013

Additional requirements in relation to electronic prescribing

11.—(1) An NHS pharmacist (P) must, if requested to do so by any person—

(a) explain to that person the Electronic Prescription Service, whether or not it is a service which is available through P’s pharmacy premises; and

(b) where the Electronic Prescription Service is not available through P’s pharmacy premises, provide that person with contact details of at least 2 NHS pharmacists in the area at whose premises the service is available, if these details are known to P.

(2) Where the Electronic Prescription Service is available through P’s pharmacy premises, P must, if requested to do so by any person, enter in that person’s PDS patient details—

(a) where the person does not have a nominated dispensing contractor, the dispensing contractor chosen by that person; or

(b) where the person does have a nominated dispensing contractor—

(i) a replacement dispensing contractor, or

(ii) a further dispensing contractor,

chosen by that person.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2)(b)(ii) does not apply if the number of nominated dispensing contractors for that person would thereby exceed the maximum number permitted by the Electronic Prescription Service.

(4) Regulation 116(a) to (c) applies to a request under this paragraph as it applies to an application to an NHS chemist for pharmaceutical services.

(5) If P is a nominated dispensing contractor for a person (X) but the nomination was made before P became the person listed in a pharmaceutical list in relation to the pharmacy premises nominated in X’s PDS patient details, P must within 6 months of P becoming the person so listed—

(a) explain to X that the ownership of the pharmacy premises has changed; and

(b) ask X whether X wishes to maintain the nomination in respect of those pharmacy premises.