Prescriptions

[NAH]

In the UK, the prescription is stamped by the pharmacy, as dispensed, and then handed back. I believe they should also take a copy and file it. But if not a controlled drug they do not seem to bother about taking a copy.

Not in any Chemist I've ever used, they keep the prescription.

[Nova]

I've always found, as Myrtle, that private prescriptions are just handed back with the medication.  With the exception of the one I filled at the chemist in Guaza, who kept the whole prescription and I had to ask her to remind me of the directions before it disappeared completely.

[Delderek]

Standard operating procedure for Private presciptions


It  is a PDF file that hasn't tabulated properly,

Dispensing Private Prescriptions
Responsibility: Pharmacist [P], Technician [T], Assistant [A].
Process Steps
Key Points
1.
Check the prescription.
Make sure that the prescription is legally
valid and that all necessary information is
contained on the prescription.
This should be checked by the
pharmacist. Remember you can check a
GMC number online at the correct
website. Also, if the prescription is for a
CD then it needs to be on a specialised
red private prescription form.
[P]
[T]
[A]
2.
Tell the patient that the prescription
needs to be paid for.
Many patients do not know that private
prescriptions need to be paid for. Ask the
pharmacist for a price before dispensing.
Sometimes once the patient knows the
price, they do not find this acceptable
and go to a different pharmacy.
Sometimes the item on the prescription
can be bought over the counter check
with the pharmacist for more
information.
[P]
[T]
[A]
3.
Dispense the private prescription.
If it is a repeat private prescription dispense
the item and stamp the prescription with
date and pharmacy details.
Make a photocopy of the prescription for
good practice and store it with the other
private prescriptions.
Private prescriptions are often hand
written, so look out for ambiguous hand
writing if in doubt call the doctor who
had prescribed the medication.
[P]
[T]
4.
Enter the transaction into the private
prescription register.
Enter all necessary details i.e. the item that
was dispensed, doctors details and the
price that was paid. Furthermore, for future
reference add a code (corresponding to
page and number) to the prescription so
that it can be easily found.
It is considered good practice to enter
the GMC number of the prescribing
doctor. But all other parameters are
legal requirements.
[P]
5.
Filing private prescriptions.
There should be a designated file for private
prescriptions.
Make sure that they are filed in order so
that they can be found at a later date.
[P]
[T]

[Delderek]

Did you also know that you can get many prescription only items, Antibiotics for instance in the UK by having an online Consultation Ten pounds If I remember correctly, and get the items in the post 2 days later (dispensed by a registered UK pharmacy) Cost of Amoxycillin half the price charged by my Dentist!!

[Guanche]

Had a chat with our friendly chemist today. if you check the packaging of the medicine you will, or should, find a very small circle to the top right hand side of the box. If the drug is not dangerous the circle will be empty. However if the circle is black or half black the chemist should take the prescription off you. The Chemist should have a visible chart either on the counter or wall explaining this. Your ID card or passport will be required for these items. The reason for the half black circle is because the drug is not as strong as the drug with the full black circle. Some treatments such as ointments or vitamins such as iron tablets will not have a circle.

So it all depends whats in the circle.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Today I went to fill a prescription so have an update. 

This is the first time for this prescription, and I have to take it for 6 months.  I had no idea how many doses were in a box.  It turns out there were 100 so I asked the pharmacist what I had to do to get enough for the 6 months.  He said I keep the prescription and I present it when I need more.  He did not enter anything into his system.  You may notice that this is at odds with Delderek's post.  As in, totally not compliant.

My prescription has a blank circle. 

The best news:  there are 100 in a box and it cost me a whopping 1.98€.

[Guanche]

Did the chemist cut the bar code of the box and retain it Myrtle?

[Janet]

oddly I think someone did something similar with Perikles the other day ...

In my experience they have always scanned the prescription and/or the tarjeta sanitaria, and then cut the bar code out of the package. The prescription is then retained by the patient for any future use as needed up to the date of its expiry ... provided the system allows the need (ie. you couldn't go in the following week and get the same quantity again if the system assesses you've got enough for a month ... ).

[Perikles]

You may notice that this is at odds with Delderek's post.  As in, totally not compliant.

Aren't we confusing things here? I mean Del is talking about the UK, Myrtle is talking about Spain (private) and Janet and Pelinor are talking of Spanish State system. 

[Guanche]

Thats what happens with the wife when she goes to get the MiL's drugs Janet. She has a repeat prescription which she retains. The bar code is cut off the drug packaging and retained while the MiL's health card is scanned. The date is then given for the collection of the next lot of drugs. I think the prescriptions only last 6 months. But I think Myrtle's is a private prescription?