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

Service outline in respect of signposting U.K.

20.—(1) Where it appears to an NHS pharmacist (P), having regard to the need to minimise inappropriate use of health and social care services and of support services, that a person using P's pharmacy—

(a) requires advice, treatment or support that P cannot provide; but

(b) another provider, of which P is aware, of health or social care services or of support services is likely to be able to provide that advice, treatment or support,

P must provide contact details of that provider to that person and must, in appropriate cases, refer that person to that provider.

(2) Where, on presentation of a prescription form or repeatable prescription, P is unable to provide an appliance or stoma appliance customisation because the provision of the appliance or customisation is not within P's normal course of business, P must—

(a) if the patient consents, refer the prescription form or repeatable prescription to another NHS pharmacist or to an NHS appliance contractor; and

(b) if the patient does not consent to a referral, provide the patient with contact details of at least 2 people who are NHS pharmacists or NHS appliance contractors who are able to provide the appliance or stoma appliance customisation (as the case may be), if these details are known to P.

(3) Where appropriate, a referral under this paragraph may be made by means of a written referral note.

(4) P must, in appropriate cases, keep and maintain a record of any information given or referral made under this paragraph and that record must be in a form that facilitates—

(a) auditing of the provision of pharmaceutical services by P; and

(b) follow-up care for the person who has been given the information or in respect of whom the referral has been made.