april 2015 cpn
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CPNCommunity Pharmacy News – April 2015
Token confusionDemystify Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) forms
and tokens with our guide
Additional payment details | Factsheet: Is it valid? | New payment analysis tool
2 Community Pharmacy News – April 2015
fuNdiNg aNd StatiStiCS CoNtraCt aNd it diSPeNSiNg aNd SuPPly Ser
NHS England will make an additional
payment to pharmacies with their March
payments, i.e. along with the final payment
for the March 2015 dispensing month
which is made in late May/ early June.
The payment will be calculated as an
additional fee for each pharmacy, based on
professional fee numbers. The fee will be
3.3 pence for each professional fee paid
from April 2014 to December 2014.
This additional fee is paid in recognition of
the reduction in margin available to
contractors in the early months of this
financial year.
As part of the 2014/15 community
pharmacy contractual framework it had
been agreed that pharmacies would be
allowed to retain £800 million of margin
income and, whilst the final outcome of the
Margin Survey will not be known until later
in this calendar year, early analysis indicates
that this total is unlikely to be reached.
In a joint statement, PSNC and NHS
England said:
“It remains our intention to smooth the
delivery of funding to community
pharmacy contractors as much as possible.
This additional fee has been agreed in light
of the predicted under delivery of margin
in 2014/15.”
PSNC Chief Executive Sue Sharpe said the
payment would be a welcome bonus for
contractors. “Financial pressures and
income volatility continue to be a problem,
driven by the instability of prices and
supplies. PSNC is pleased that we were
able to secure this payment in advance of
the final reconciliation of figures for
margin earned in the financial year,” she
added.
PSNC and NHS England joint announcement:additional payment to pharmaciesAdditional payment worth around £2,000 to £2,200 to pharmacies
dispensing average volumes will be paid in late May/early June.
Additional Payment:Frequently AskedQuestions
Q. When will the additional payment be
paid?
A. The additional fee will be paid along
with your final payment for the March
2015 dispensing month. The usual
payment timescales mean this payment
will be made in late May/ early June.
Q. How do contractors claim the extra
payment?
A. Pharmacy contractors do not need to
do anything to claim the payment – it will
be calculated based on the professional
fees paid to them between April 2014
and December 2014 and added to their
March payments by the Pricing Authority.
Q. Will Welsh pharmacy contractors
receive the additional payment for
March 2015?
A. The Drug Tariff contains payment and
reimbursement information for both
English and Welsh pharmacy contractors
and, unless specified otherwise, will
apply to both English and Welsh
pharmacy contractors. Part IIIA of the
April 2015 edition of the Drug Tariff
explicitly states that this additional
payment is applicable to both English and
Welsh contractors.
Q. How much is this payment worth?
A. Across the sector the additional
payment to contractors will be worth
around £25m. The amount each
pharmacy receives will depend on the
number of items they dispensed from
April 2014 to December 2014. For
contractors dispensing average
prescription numbers the payment will
be around £2,000 – £2,200.
Q. My pharmacy was open between
April 2014 and December 2014, but its
NHS code (commonly known as the F
code) changed during this time – will I
still receive the additional fees?
A. In this scenario, the contractor must
contact the Pricing Authority to
determine whether they are eligible for
the additional fee. The team to write to is
as follows: NHS Business Services
Authority, Customer Payment Team
Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn
Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
Q. My pharmacy was open between
April 2014 and December 2014, but has
since closed – will I still receive the
additional payment?
A. Any pharmacy account (determined by
an NHS or F code) which ceased to exist
prior to 1st March 2015, and therefore is
not submitting a claim for payment for
the March 2015 dispensing month, is not
entitled to the payment.
Make sure you don’t miss out onthe latest community pharmacynews and PSNC announcements.
Sign up to our email newsletters at
psnc.org.uk/email
psnc.org.uk 3
the healthCare laNdSCaPe lPCs PSNC’s workrviCeS aNd CoMMiSSioNiNg
Check34 - a new tool to help with prescriptionanalysisNew system will enable contractors to monitor the accuracy of their
monthly prescription payments as notified on the monthly FP34 Schedule
of Payment received from the Pricing Authority.
A new online service to help all contractors analyse the
prescription data they receive every month from the Pricing
Authority is being rolled out by PSNC this month. A unique
collaboration with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA)
means all NPA members will gain access to the service, called
Check34, without paying a separate subscription fee.
Check34 will enable contractors to monitor the accuracy of their
monthly prescription payments as notified on the monthly FP34
Schedule of Payment received from the Pricing Authority. It will
also provide the sort of prescription data analysis which until now
has only been available to larger companies with substantial IT
resources.
Contractors who use the service will be able to view a number of
key performance indicators (KPIs) for their prescription business
and look back at up to 24 months of historical data. KPIs include:
• Items dispensed per month
• Average item value
• Fees and drug costs
• Working hours (to ensure correct Practice Payment)
• Script switches (part 2 and not signed) and fees lost
• Expensive items (value, number, % of total account)
• Zero discount (value, number, % of total account)
• MURs completed per month and in year to date
• NMS completed per month and in year to date
Users will see an easy to navigate dashboard when they first sign
in, and the KPIs will be shown graphically. The graphs will have
overlays to enable contractors to compare their performance with
the national average and that of the nearest pharmacies to theirs
geographically. Companies with multiple branches can compare a
branch performance to regional and/or company averages.
For users who wish to use the information in other applications,
any data that appears on the monthly FP34 (with the exception of
service fees) can be downloaded as a .csv or .xls file. Check34 also
offers contractors the option of entering their monthly FP34C
submission figures and reconciling these against those shown by
the Pricing Authority on that month’s FP34.
The ability to offer Check34 derives from the prescription audit
work that PSNC carries out on behalf of contractors.
Accessing Check34• NPA Members:
The NPA has entered into an arrangement with PSNC that
means all NPA members in England will be offered the new
service as part of their subscription package.
The NPA plans to fast track member access to the new
service with the aim of having all eligible pharmacies
subscribed by autumn 2015. Thereafter access to the service
will be renewed in line with their annual NPA subscription.
NPA members should visit the NPA website at
npa.co.uk/check34 for more information.
• Non-NPA members:
The NPA will be managing subscription sales for Check34 to
non-NPA member pharmacies. Contact [email protected]
or call Katie Smith on 01727 858687 for subscription rates
and more information.
• CCA member companies:
CCA members who wish to find out more about Check34 can
email [email protected] or contact the PSNC
office on 0203 1220 820.
PSNC stresses value of pharmacy teamsPSNC has once again highlighted the value that community
pharmacy teams can offer patients and the NHS to the
Government. In a meeting with pharmacy minister Earl Howe, PSNC
Chief Executive Sue Sharpe and independent contractor Gary
Warner outlined the potential benefits of pharmacy services such
as minor ailments schemes, re-ablement services, public health
advice, and flu vaccinations. The meeting formed part of PSNC’songoing work to develop the community pharmacy service.
Gary Warner said: “It was great to hear the Minister so interested in
how community pharmacies can help patients and the NHS. He said
our approach was innovative, timely and sensible. For example we
discussed the emergency supply of medicines and the Minister was
interested in the potential costs savings of an NHS service – we
hope the national clinical audit on this topic provide more evidence
to help us to make the case for this.”
4 Community Pharmacy News – April 2015
the healthCare laNdSCaPe lPCs PSNC’s work
NHS England guidance on urgent
repeats
NHS England has published guidance for
commissioners and NHS 111 providers on
how NHS 111 services can establish a
direct referral to a pharmacy that is
commissioned to provide urgent repeat
medication as a locally commissioned NHS
service. NHS England is encouraging
commissioners of NHS 111 and local
community pharmacy services to use this
guide to inform the transformation of
urgent care by shifting the burden of
repeat medication requests away from GP
out of hours services and other urgent
care settings to an appropriately
commissioned community pharmacy
emergency supply service. See:
tinyurl.com/nhs111pharmacyguide
Greater roles for CCGs
Following on from the news in February
that 64 Clinical Commissioning Groups
(CCGs) will take on greater delegated
commissioning (dld.bz/d9FJw) for the
majority of GP services, a further 87 CCGs
have been approved for joint
commissioning. This means
over 70% of CCGs will take
on greater commissioning
responsibilities for GP
services from April 2015.
Vanguard sites
NHS England has announced the first 29
vanguard sites (dld.bz/d9FJx) that will
lead on transforming care for patients
across England.
In January 2015, the NHS invited individual
organisations and partnerships, including
those within the voluntary sector, to apply
to become vanguard sites for the New
Care Models Programme, the first major
step towards delivering the NHS Five Year
Forward View (dld.bz/d9FK5) and
supporting improvement and integration
of services.
National NHS Diabetes Prevention
Programme
The National NHS Diabetes Prevention
Programme has been launched in England
as a major national initiative to prevent
illness. The programme, which is a joint
initiative between NHS England, Public
Health England and Diabetes UK, aims to
significantly reduce the four million people
in England otherwise expected to have
type 2 diabetes by 2025.
CQC rating displays
Health and care providers will have to
prominently display their Care Quality
Commission (CQC) rating from 1st April
2015. This requirement follows an
amendment to regulation that was laid
before Parliament on 28th January 2015
by the Department of Health that required
providers to display their CQC ratings
across their services and on their websites.
Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund update
NHS England has announced that 37 pilot
sites, covering 1,417 practices, have been
successful in the second wave of the Prime
Minister’s Challenge Fund (dld.bz/d9FJ2)
to test innovative ways of delivering GP
services and making services more
accessible to patients. In
total there are now 57
pilots covering more than
18m people in over 2,500 practices that
will benefit from improved access and
transformational change at local level.
Hunt pledges additional £8bn for NHS
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has pledged
that the Conservative party will spend an
additional £8bn on funding the NHS Five
Year Forward View if they win the general
election. The Tories are the second party
to pledge to support funding for the
Forward View; the Liberal Democrats
pledged their support in January.
PHE focus on pharmacy
Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health
England’s National Director for Health and
Wellbeing, was waving the flag for
pharmacy in his blog last month. He
discussed the important role pharmacists
and their teams can play in raising
awareness of public health issues, in
particular helping patients make healthy
lifestyle choices and manage their pre-
existing conditions. He highlighted some
of the great work that community
pharmacy is already doing such as NHS
Health Checks and the healthy living
pharmacy model.
PSNC regularly receives questions from LPCs and
pharmacy contractors about what is going on in the
wider health and care landscape beyond community
pharmacy. In this round-up we cover the
latest news from the past month.
151 CCGstake on greatercommissioningroles
4 million peopleexpected to get diabetes
37 PrimeMinister’sChallenge Fundsites
£8bn for NHS underConservatives
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CoNtraCt aNd it diSPeNSiNg aNd SuPPly ServiCeS aNd CoMMiSSioNiNgfuNdiNg aNd StatiStiCS
Summary of EPS-related forms and tokens (England)As uptake of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) increases, community
pharmacy teams should familiarise themselves with the various prescription
forms and tokens they will now encounter. The information provided below will
help you to identify the different types of forms and explain when they are used.
Paper Prescriptions
Paper FP10 prescription (withoutan electronic prescriptionmessage)Even those GP practices which havegone live with EPS Release 2 willcontinue using paper FP10prescriptions forms wherenecessary. Dentists and hospitaldoctors do not yet have access toEPS.
Barcoded FP10 prescription (withan electronic prescriptionmessage)With a Release 1 EPS prescription,the paper FP10 form will requirethe prescriber's written signature,and the paper form will be the legalprescription. GP systems print abarcode on a paper prescriptionwhich, when scanned at an EPS-enabled pharmacy, downloads anelectronic prescription message.This electronic message will auto-populate the pharmacy’s systemwith the prescription details.
This type of prescription should bedispensed using the paper form,and the paper form needs to besubmitted in the usual way forpricing.
EPS Release 2 (R2) tokens (see overleaf)
Paper forms that are printed to accompany
electronic prescriptions are known as ‘tokens’.
These are only used once a GP practice is using
EPS R2.
There are two types:
1. the prescription or authorisation token
(generated by a prescriber); and
2. the dispensing token (generated by a
dispenser).
Both types are simply paper copies of the
electronic prescription and neither can be used
to dispense prescription items without the
corresponding electronic prescription.
The barcode present on a token can be
scanned to retrieve the corresponding
electronic prescription from the NHS central
Spine (the network which transfers
information relating to electronic
prescriptions). The prescription identifier code
on the tokens is 18 characters. Note: Only R2
enabled dispensing systems will be able to
retrieve an electronic prescription message
from a token.
The ‘prescriber signature’ area on prescription
tokens is overprinted to prevent the prescriber
signing the token because it is the electronic
signature on the electronic message which
makes the prescription legally valid.
Reimbursement is made against the electronic
claim message for the electronic prescription
and not the paper token. Handwritten
amendments are therefore not acceptable; the
electronic message must be returned to the
Spine so the prescriber can cancel and re-issue.
Wales: Currently, pharmacies in Wales cannot
access these electronic prescription messages by
scanning these R2 barcodes. Therefore, if a
patient wishes to have their prescription
dispensed in Wales, or one of the other home
countries, a paper prescription form will need to
be requested.
6 Community Pharmacy News – April 2015
CoNtraCt aNd it diSPeNSiNg aNd SuPPly ServiCeS aNd CoMMiSSioNiNg th
The token and prescription
illustrations are reproduced
here with permission from
the Department of Health.
Subject to Crown copyright.
They were the correct
version as at the date of
publication (April 2015), but
medical professionals
should check which versions
are valid and in use at any
given time and should not
assume the versions printed
are still valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. The prescriber has signed a
prescription token; does this
make it a legal NHS
prescription?
A. No. With EPS R2, payment is
always based on the electronic
message. R2 tokens are
designed to minimise the risk of
confusion by over-writing the
signature box to state that the
token should not be used as a
prescription.
Q. Which EPS R2 tokens should
I send with my prescription
bundle?
A. The tokens which should be
sent to the Pricing Authority are
those where the patient:
• is exempt for a reason other
than age; or
• has paid the prescription
charge.
These tokens are sent for audit
purposes only as reimbursement
is made against electronically
submitted R2 messages and the
exemption category applied to
that message.
Prescription token (issued in parallel with a legalelectronic NHS prescription)The green FP10SS form may be used by the prescriberto print a prescription token.
The right hand side of the token will include a notethat the electronic prescription message has been sentto the nominated dispensing site along with the nameand address of the site.
Repeat authorisation token (issued in parallel with alegal NHS repeatable electronic prescription)It is mandatory for the prescriber to give the patient aprescription token when authorising an electronicrepeatable prescription. This looks similar to theprescription token but has the words ‘repeatdispensing authorisation form’ printed on it.
Dispensing token (can be generated as necessarywhere a legal electronic NHS prescription has beenissued by the prescriber)The 'FP10DT' is white in colour and is generated by adispenser. It will be printed with the annotation‘dispensing token’.
In EPS R2, these may be presented at a pharmacywhere a patient has nominated a pharmacy but theirnominated pharmacy has been unable to dispense theprescription. This is not a legal prescription but thebarcode on the form can be used to ‘pull down’ thelegal NHS electronic prescription from the Spine.
NHS England teams are responsible for supplyingcommunity pharmacies with blank FP10DTs forprinting dispensing tokens.
ElectronicPrescriptionService
Find out more about EPS R2
tokens at: psnc.org.uk/tokens
Community pharmacy contractors should be aware of a number
of changes to fees and allowances that are being made in the
Drug Tariff from April 2015. The changes are:
• An increase in Practice Payment of 4.4p per item, from 49.1p to
53.5p; and
• An increase in the thresholds governing access to the Practice
and Establishment Payments by c. 2.9%
The following table outlines the Practice Payments from 1st April:
Contractors may recall that in November 2014 there was a
reduction in the Practice Payment of around 17p per item to
ensure delivery of the agreed £2bn fees and allowances in the
2014/15 financial year. The April increase of 4.4p per item
rebalances this and is designed to ensure smooth delivery of
funding in the coming year. It will be reviewed once a funding
settlement for 2015/16 has been agreed.
This table outlines Establishment Payments from 1st April:
The increase in threshold for both payments recognises the
increases in prescription volumes that have been seen in England.
It is in line with the routine annual increases that were made as
part of funding settlements agreed from 2006 until the NHS
reforms.
Changes to the Drug Tariff in April 2015
psnc.org.uk 7
lPCs PSNC’s work fuNdiNg aNd StatiStiCShe healthCare laNdSCaPe
When pharmacy teams receive NHS prescriptions they must check whether the items prescribed are allowed on the NHS before dispensing. If they
are not considered to be allowed, the pharmacy may not be paid for them.
Pharmacy staff can check whether medicinal products and medical devices are allowed using the Drug Tariff.
Medicinal products: assuming the prescriber has the appropriate prescribing rights, any food, drug, toiletry or cosmetic may be prescribed on an
NHS prescription unless the product is listed in Part XVIIIA of the Drug Tariff (the ‘blacklist’).
Medical devices: if a product has been registered as a medical device (also known as an appliance), it can only be dispensed on an NHS prescription
if it is listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff. Registered medical devices can be identified by a ‘CE’ mark on the product’s packaging.
Pharmacy staff may wish to check PSNC’s ‘Dispensing on an FP10 database’ psnc.org.uk/FP10database, and we have listed some products below
that we have recently received queries about.
Product Is the item Does it If no, is it Can it be Additional information listed in the have a ‘CE’ in the dispensed Drug Tariff? mark? blacklist? on the NHS
Please note: If the prescription is one of the following, pharmacy staff will need to check the relevant sections of the Drug Tariff/PSNC website:
• FP10CN or FP10PN (community nurse prescriber) – Part XVIIB.
• FP10D (dental prescriber) – Part XVIIA.
• FP10MDA (instalment dispensing) – psnc.org.uk/mda
Can it be dispensed on an FP10?
Bard Interglide
Coated Intermittent
Catheter D6030
Sildenafil 100mg
chewable tablets
sugar free
Combur 7 testing
strips
Senset Skin
Cleansing Foam
BD Luer-Lok Syringe
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
n/a
No
n/a
No
n/a
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
This item is a registered medical device (CE marked) and appears in
Part IXA of the Drug Tariff.
This item is not a registered medical device (CE marked) and does
not appear in Part XVIIIA (the ‘blacklist’) of the Drug Tariff.
This item is a registered medical device (CE marked) and is not
listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
This item is not a registered medical device (CE marked) and does
not appear in Part XVIIIA (the ‘blacklist’) of the Drug Tariff.
This item is a registered medical device (CE marked) and is not
listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
Number of itemsper month
Establishment Payment from 1st April2015
2,500 – 2,829 £23,278 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
2,830 – 3,149 £24,190 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
3,150+ £25,100 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
Number of itemsper month
Practice Payments from 1st April 2015
Up to 1,099 £600 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
1,100 – 1,599 £5,479 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
1,600 – 2,499 £7,670 (annual total, 1/12 paid monthly)
2,500+ 53.5p per item
8 Community Pharmacy News – April 2015
diSPeNSiNg aNd SuPPly ServiCeS aNd CoMMiSSioNiNg the healthCare laNdSCaPe
1. How long does a repeat prescription remain legally valid?
Repeat prescriptions for Schedule 5 Controlled Drugs (CDs) and
items without CD status must be dispensed for the first time
within six months of the ‘appropriate date’, with subsequent
issues valid for 12 months from the signed date. The ‘appropriate
date’ is the later of either the date the prescription was signed or
the date indicated as the start date.
For example, consider a prescription for Salbutamol
100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free requesting 12 months’
supply, split amongst twelve batch issues (RD forms). If the signed
date on the prescription (RA form) is 1st January 2015, then if the
patient is to obtain all of their medicine, the pharmacy must have
dispensed fully within one year, and therefore by 31st December
2015.
Schedule 2 and 3 CDs cannot be prescribed on repeat
prescriptions. Repeat dispensing prescriptions for Schedule 4 CDs
must be dispensed for the first time within 28 days of the
appropriate date with subsequent issues valid for 12 months
from the signed date.
2. Is it legal for a GP to post-date prescriptions, say for three or
six months, for a patient to retain and get dispensed when
required?
Yes. According to The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use)
Order 1997, a prescription must be endorsed with an appropriate
date, defined as ‘…the date on which it was signed by the
appropriate practitioner giving it or a date indicated by him as
being the date before which it shall not be dispensed (15. (4) (a)).’
However, pharmacy teams may wish to suggest the GP considers
using repeat prescriptions instead. Repeat prescriptions enable
the pharmacist to make checks on whether the continued
medication is appropriate for the patient, and are generally a
preferred method.
3. There has been an outbreak of scabies within a family. Rather
than issuing one prescription per family member, the prescriber
has ordered sufficient quantity of Permethrin 5% cream on one
prescription to cover the whole family. Is this allowed?
No. Bulk prescriptions are not intended to cover situations such
as these. The only exception to this rule is where the prescriber is
responsible under their GMS contract for the treatment of 10 or
more persons in a school or other institution in which at least 20
persons normally reside; and where the prescriber needs to
prescribe for two or more of those persons for whose treatment
the contractor is responsible. The prescription should bear the
name of the school or institution concerned.
More information about bulk prescriptions can be found in Part
VIIIA, Notes, Paragraph 9 of the Drug Tariff. A key point to note is
that bulk prescriptions can only be issued for prescribable
dressings and for medicines which are not classified as
prescription only medicines. (See this month’s factsheet
Dispensing Factsheet: Is this prescription form valid? on pages 9–10)
Look out for more frequently asked questions next month…
Ask PSNCThe PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team can give pharmacy teams advice on
a range of topics related to the Drug Tariff and reimbursement. Below are
some questions the team have been asked in recent months.
If you would like more information on any of the topics covered,
the PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team will be happy to help
(call 0844 381 4180 or 0203 1220 810 or e-mail [email protected]).
Nutricia Announce Change inDistribution ArrangementsNutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition has announced that with effect from 4th April
2015 it will appoint two solus wholesale partners.
• Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd will become the sole distributor of its
metabolics and allergy products to all pharmacies in England, Scotland and Wales.
• AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd will become Nutricia’s sole distributor of products to all
hospitals with a formal contract or other commercial arrangement with Nutricia, in
England, Scotland and Wales.
For more information, including a list of the metabolics and allergy products, and to
see Nutricia’s letter visit our website at tinyurl.com/nutricia-news
Related Information
A summary of the distribution changes for medicine suppliers can be found on our
Distribution of Medicines page at psnc.org.uk/distribution
Colecalciferol in theDrug TariffThe Preface of the April 2015 Drug
Tariff annotates the addition of two
licensed Colecalciferol products with
effect from May 2015 to Part VIIIA.
• Colecalciferol 20,000 units, 15 and
30 capsules (Category C)
• Colecalciferol 40,000 units, 10
capsules (Category C)
Pharmacy staff are reminded that
products listed with more than one
pack size in Category C, Part VIIIA of
the Drug Tariff, are required to have
the pack size endorsed on the
prescription.
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PSNC’s work fuNdiNg aNd StatiStiCS CoNtraCt aNd itlPCs
Dispensing Factsheet:Is This Prescription Form Valid?Only certain types of prescription form can be dispensed on the NHS so it is important
for pharmacy teams to be able to identify which form types are allowed and which are
not. Form types can be identified by the code on the bottom right of a prescription.
Eligibility
The following prescription forms can be dispensed by NHS community pharmacies in England and Wales.
For information on forms originating in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, and prescription forms that are not eligible,
see: psnc.org.uk/prescriptionforms
Forms originating in England
Forms originating in Wales
Form type and colour
Who can use or what they are used for Further information
GreenFP10FP10NCFP10HNCFP10SS
GPs, hospital doctors, andindependent/supplementary prescribers (pharmacists,midwives, nurses, chiropodists/ podiatrists,physiotherapists, radiographers, optometrists), or outof hours centres if correctly annotated.
Forms annotated with the initials RD are repeat dispensingforms. Forms annotated with the initials RA are repeatauthorisation forms.
BlueFP10MDAFP10MDA-SFP10HMDA-SFP10MDA-SSFP10MDA-SP
Instalment dispensing prescription form. More information can be found on our InstalmentDispensing page at: psnc.org.uk/mda
LilacFP10PFP10PNFP10CNFP10SP
Independent/supplementary prescribers. The form should be printed with information to identify thetype of prescriber, for example, ‘community practitionernurse prescriber (formerly known as district nurse/healthvisitors)’ or ‘nurse independent prescriber orsupplementary prescriber’. Only items listed in the relevantformularies can be prescribed on this prescription.
YellowFP10D
Dentists in primary care. Only items listed in the dental formulary can be prescribedon this prescription.
Form type and colour
Who can use or what they are used for Further information
GreenWP10WP10SSWP10SPWP10HPWP10HSP
GPs, hospitals and supplementary prescribers. Forms annotated with the initials RD are repeat dispensingforms. Forms annotated with the initials RA are repeatauthorisation forms.
GreenWP10D
Dentists in primary care. Only items listed in the dental formulary can be prescribedon this prescription.
GreenWP10CNWP10PN
Independent/supplementary prescribers. Only items listed in the relevant formularies can beprescribed on this prescription.
GreenWP10MDAWP10HP(AD)
Instalment dispensing prescription form. More information can be found on our InstalmentDispensing page at: psnc.org.uk/mda
For information relating to prescription charges, refer to the patient charges page on our website at: psnc.org.uk/chargesFor guidance on prescribing formularies, refer to our webpage at: psnc.org.uk/prescribing
All details correct at time of printing.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the PSNC.
Produced for the PSNC by Communications International Group. ©. PSNC.
Colour repro and printing by Truprint Media, Margate.
The publishers accept no responsibility for any statement made in signed contributions or
in those reproduced from any other source.
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diSPeNSiNg aNd SuPPly ServiCeS aNd CoMMiSSioNiNg the healthCare laNdSCaPe
PSNC websiteFor up to date information and news on community pharmacy issues, visit the PSNC website at psnc.org.uk
PSNC Community Pharmacy News is published by:The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, Times House, 5 Bravingtons Walk, London N1 9AWCommunity Pharmacy News is edited by:Zoe Smeaton who can be contacted at the above address or by email at: [email protected] © PSNCPSNC Office: 0844 381 4180 or 0203 122 0810
How long is a prescription valid for?
The table below summarises the length of validity of the different types of NHS prescription.
Type of prescription 1st issue expiry Subsequent issues expiry
FP10 (excluding requests for Schedule 1, 2, 3 or 4 CDs) 6 months* 12 months for repeatable prescriptions.
FP10 for Schedule 1, 2 or 3 CDs 28 days* N/A (cannot be on repeatable prescriptions)
FP10 for Schedule 4 CDs 28 days* 12 months for repeatable prescriptions.
FP10MDA prescription 28 days* In accordance with instalment directions.A prescriber can request up to 14 days’ supply.
*from the ‘appropriate date’ (either the date the prescription was signed or the date indicated as the start date)
Owings
The owing balance on prescriptions for Schedule 5 Controlled Drugs (CDs) and other medicines that are not CDs cannot be collected
more than 6 months after the appropriate date. The exception is for owings against repeatable prescriptions (which have a maximum
validity of 12 months).
For prescriptions requesting Schedule 1, 2, 3 or 4 CDs, owings cannot be dispensed later than 28 days after the appropriate date on
the prescription. It is good practice for the pharmacist to make the patient or their representative aware at the outset that they will
not be able to collect the balance after the 28 day period has elapsed.
Also, it is important to note that owings are not appropriate for CDs which are being supplied in instalments, as the quantity of the
instalment dispensed must be exactly as specified on the prescription. Any missed instalments can only be given on the following day
if the prescriber has specified this is permissible.
Bulk prescriptions
Part VIIIA, Notes, Paragraph 9 of the Drug Tariff outlines the arrangements for bulk prescriptions:
A “Bulk” prescription is an order for two or more patients, bearing the name of a school or institution in which at least 20 persons normally
reside, for the treatment of at least 10 of whom a particular doctor is responsible. Such a prescription must be an order for a drug which is
prescribable under the NHS and which is not designated “Prescription Only Medicine” (POM) under Section 58(1) of the Medicines Act 1968,
or for a prescribable dressing which does not contain a product which is designated POM.
No prescription charge is payable when a bulk prescription is dispensed.
Dispensing factsheetsYou may have noticed that since last year we have been publishing one newdispensing related factsheet every month in our CPN magazine. What you mightnot know is that they are now all available to download from our website.Previous factsheets have covered such topics as:• Unlicensed specials and imports;• Charges and exemptions;• Using the Drug Tariff; and• Where to obtain external resources.If you missed any of these factsheets, or want additional copies, download them now at: tinyurl.com/d-sbriefings
psnc.org.uk 11
PSNC’s work fuNdiNg aNd StatiStiCS CoNtraCt aNd itlPCs
Drug Tariff WatchThe first section of the Drug Tariff is the
Preface. This contains valuable
information relevant for both the current
edition and the next. It lists additions,
deletions and any other alterations to the
Drug Tariff. The Preface should ideally be
checked each month to identify products
which are entering or being removed
from the Tariff as well as those products
changing between categories or in the
case of Category C items, changes to the
brand used for pricing.
It is especially important to note which
are Drug Tariff listed products as well as
which category products are entering and
the pack sizes being included in these
entries, as reimbursement will be based
on this classification and its endorsement
requirements. Incorrect endorsement can
lead to incorrect payment for items.
It is also important to know the category
of an item when claiming certain
payments (e.g. OOP expenses) as these
are not allowed for some categories. For
more information visit psnc.org.uk/oop
Below is a quick summary of some of the
changes due to take place from 1st May
2015
Part XVI - Notes on Charges
Contractors should note:
• changes made to People Entitled To
Remission note 6.1.1;
• changes made to the contact details of
NHS Forms Orderline with regards to
England; and
• changes made to the Prescription
Charge Refund Procedure with regards
to Universal Credit arrangements.
Part VIIIA Additions
Category C Additions:
* This pack only (others already
available)
• Bisoprolol 5mg / Aspirin 75mg capsules
(30) - Aspire Pharma Ltd
• Bisoprolol 10mg / Aspirin 75mg
capsules (30) - Aspire Pharma Ltd
• Bisoprolol 5mg / Aspirin 100mg
capsules (30) - Aspire Pharma Ltd
• Bisoprolol 10mg / Aspirin 100mg
capsules (30) - Aspire Pharma Ltd
• Colecalciferol 20,000unit capsules (15)
Fultium-D3
• Colecalciferol 20,000unit capsules (30)
• Colecalciferol 40,000unit capsules (10)
Plenachol
• * Morphine sulfate 30mg/1ml solution
for injection ampoules (10) Martindale
Pharmaceuticals Ltd
• Progesterone 100mg pessaries (21)
Lutigest
Part VIIIA Amendments
SC Special Container
• Co-phenotrope 2.5mg/0.025mg tablets
(100) is changing to Category C AMCo
• Demeclocycline 150mg capsules (28) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Ferrous fumarate 140mg/5ml oral
solution (200ml) is changing to
Category C AMCo
• Flumetasone 0.02% / Clioquinol 1% ear
drops SC (7.5ml) is changing to
Category C AMCo
• Flumetasone 0.02% / Clioquinol 1% ear
drops SC (10ml) is changing to
Category C AMCo
• Fusidic acid 1% modified-release eye
drops SC (5g) is changing to Category C
AMCo
• Indoramin 25mg tablets (84) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Isosorbide mononitrate 25mg
modified-release capsules (28) is
changing to Category C Elantan LA25
• Liothyronine 20microgram tablets (28)
is changing to Category C AMCo
• Methadone 10mg/1ml solution for
injection ampoules (10) is changing to
Category C Physeptone
• Methadone 50mg/5ml solution for
injection ampoules (10) is changing to
Category C Physeptone
• Morphine sulfate 15mg/1ml solution
for injection ampoules (10) is changing
to Category C Martindale
Pharmaceuticals Ltd
• Olsalazine 250mg capsules (112) is
changing to Category A
• Olsalazine 500mg tablets (60) is
changing to Category A
• Oxprenolol 20mg tablets (56) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Phenindione 10mg tablets (28) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Phenindione 25mg tablets (28) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Phenoxybenzamine 10mg capsules (30)
is changing to Category C AMCo
• Sulfinpyrazone 100mg tablets (84) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Sulfinpyrazone 200mg tablets (84) is
changing to Category C AMCo
• Tramadol 100mg/ml oral drops SC
(10ml) is changing to Category C AMCo
Part VIIIA Deletions
If a medicinal product has been removed
from Part VIIIA and has no other pack
sizes listed, it can continue to be
dispensed, but it will need to be endorsed
fully (i.e. brand or supplier name from
whom the product was purchased and
the pack size from which the item was
dispensed) and price paid in future.
* This pack only (others already
available)
• * Morphine sulfate 30mg/1ml solution
for injection ampoules (5) Category A
• Testosterone 30mg modified-release
muco-adhesive buccal tablets (60)
Category C Striant SR
• Tragacanth powder (500g) Category C J
M Loveridge Ltd
Part IX Deletions
It is important to take careful note of
removals from Part IX because if you
dispense a deleted product, prescriptions
will be returned as disallowed and
therefore payment will not be made for
dispensing the item.
• Coloplast Ltd Self-Cath plus
(Male) (USCC10M-USCC16M) CH 10-16
(Female) (USCC8F-USCC16F) CH 8-16
• MANUKApli (15g)
• Eyezin (10ml) preservative free bottle
• Coloplast Ltd S Triform Leg Bags
350ml short tube 5350
750ml short tube with soft backing 5751
• CliniMed Ltd Soft-end Ties White 9760 -
30Hollister Ltd Moderma Flex with
Lock ‘n’ Roll Closure Beige comfort
backing on both sides 20mm 28120
(30)
• Hollister Ltd Maxi - Conform 2 with
Lock'n'Roll Closure Transparent with
comfort backing on body side only N
35mm 23860 (30)
Need to know if an item can be
dispensed on an FP10? Check on our
database at: psnc.org.uk/FP10database
Th
e re
d h
igh
ligh
ted
are
as b
elo
w a
re th
e o
nly p
arts o
f the
pre
scriptio
n th
at a
re re
ad
by th
e In
tellig
en
t Ch
ara
cter R
eco
gn
ition
(ICR
) softw
are
at th
e P
ricing
Au
tho
rity on
ce th
e fo
rm h
as b
ee
nsca
nn
ed
. To
en
sure
accu
rate
pa
yme
nt p
lea
se fo
llow
the
se tip
s an
d e
nsu
re th
at th
ese
are
as a
re ke
pt cle
ar.
Pricin
g F
actsh
ee
t: Ch
eck
ing
Yo
ur P
rescrip
tion
s Be
fore
Su
bm
ission
Du
ring
the
disp
en
sing
pro
cess, p
ha
rma
cy tea
ms sh
ou
ld m
ake
sure
tha
t pre
scriptio
ns m
ee
t certa
inre
qu
irem
en
ts to e
nsu
re th
at th
e ite
ms o
n th
e p
rescrip
tion
will b
e re
imb
urse
d co
rrectly. T
his g
uid
ein
clud
es d
eta
ils of h
ow
pre
scriptio
ns a
re sca
nn
ed
an
d tip
s on
use
ful ch
ecks p
ha
rma
cy tea
ms ca
n m
ake
.
Th
e to
ken
an
d p
rescrip
tion
illustra
tion
s are
rep
rod
uce
d h
ere
with
pe
rmissio
n fro
m th
eD
ep
artm
en
t of H
ea
lth. S
ub
ject to
Cro
wn
cop
yrigh
t. Th
ey w
ere
the
corre
ct versio
n a
s at th
e d
ate
of p
ub
licatio
n (A
pril 2
01
5), b
ut m
ed
ical p
rofe
ssion
als sh
ou
ld ch
eck w
hich
versio
ns a
re va
lid a
nd
inu
se a
t an
y give
n tim
e a
nd
sho
uld
no
t assu
me
the
versio
ns p
rinte
d a
re still va
lid.
If usin
g “Q
ua
dra
nt”
che
ckin
g sta
mp
s in th
isa
rea
, en
sure
the
y do
no
t cove
r the
ag
e/D
OB
or N
HS
nu
mb
er o
f the
pa
tien
t.
En
sure
you
r ph
arm
acy
stam
p d
oe
s no
t cove
rth
e a
ge
/DO
B a
s this ca
na
ffe
ct switch
ing
.
All e
nd
orse
me
nts m
ust
be
kep
t in th
is colu
mn
an
d n
ot e
ncro
ach
on
the
mid
dle
pa
rt of th
e fo
rm.
If the
pre
scribe
r’ssig
na
ture
en
croa
che
s on
an
y item
on
the
form
, itm
ust b
e p
lace
d in
the
red
sep
ara
tor.
En
sure
tha
t the
re is a
Pre
scribe
r Co
st Co
de
pre
sen
t.
Th
is nu
mb
er is n
ow
be
ing
rea
d b
y the
ICR
; en
sure
itis fi
lled
in co
rrectly.
If the
re is n
o p
rinte
da
ge
or D
OB
, en
sure
the
ap
pro
pria
te a
ge
ex
em
ptio
n b
ox
or th
eco
rrect e
xe
mp
tion
bo
xis ticke
d.
If the
pa
tien
t do
es n
ot
ha
ve a
ny e
vide
nce
of
the
ir exe
mp
tion
, en
sure
this b
ox
is ticked
.
A n
um
eric e
ntry in
pa
rt2
can
cau
se in
ad
verte
nt
switch
ing
. Try to
kee
pth
is bo
x cle
ar if th
ep
atie
nt is e
xem
pt.
Th
ere
MU
ST
be
a va
lidsig
na
ture
pre
sen
t on
the
form
if the
pa
tien
t ise
xem
pt a
nd
the
re is n
op
rinte
d a
ge
/DO
B.
Ad
ditio
na
l gu
ida
nce
1
.De
term
inin
g w
he
the
r a p
rescrip
tion
form
is valid
: psn
c.org
.uk
/pre
scriptio
nfo
rms
2.Id
en
tifying
pre
scribin
g rig
hts: p
snc.o
rg.u
k/p
rescrib
ing
3.C
he
cking
elig
ibility fo
r exe
mp
tion
from
the
pre
scriptio
n ch
arg
e: p
snc.o
rg.u
k/ch
arg
es
4.G
ettin
g yo
ur p
rescrip
tion
bu
nd
le re
ad
y to se
nd
: psn
c.org
.uk
/sub
missio
n