Controlled drug stock sometimes goes out of date and can no longer be supplied. When this occurs the stock should be separated from in-date stock to prevent it from being supplied inadvertently against a prescription until arrangements can be made for its destruction, to be witnessed by an authorized person.
At this point of destruction an entry will need to be made into the controlled drug register to account for the stock destroyed. The entry will be authorized by the witness and the running balance, where this is used, revised to reflect the new balance. Until it is destroyed any out of-date controlled drug stock is still subject to the safe custody requirements.
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These are licensed medicinal products specifically listed in the Medicines (Products other than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sales List) Order 1984, as amended. They can be reasonably safely sold or supplied without the need for being sold by a pharmacist or person acting under a pharmacist’s supervision. The legislation also specifies certain classifications of medicines that cannot be sold as GSL, such as eye drops or eye ointments or products containing certain vitamin A or vitamin D compounds.
Many GSL medicines are, like pharmacy medicines, licensed to be sold only in restricted pack sizes, for restricted indications or restricted strengths, formulations and recommended dose.
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Emergency situations arise with regard to the need for supplies of POMs when the patient does not have access to a valid prescription and cannot realistically obtain one. The Medicines Act allows for two types of emergency supply ofPOMsto be made: at the request of the patient, and at the request of an authorised prescriber. Most controlled drugs and some other listed substances may not be supplied as an emergency supply.
For emergency supplies requested by a patient the pharmacist must first have interviewed the patient and be satisfied that an emergency exists and that it is not practical to obtain a prescription. If this is the case and the patient has previously been treated with a POM prescribed by one of the authorised prescribers, the pharmacist may provide up to 30 days’ supply of the medicines with exceptions for certain specified packaging and products.
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The Medicines Act 1968 prohibits the sale or supply of medicinal products unless an exemption applies. It defines two classes of medicinal products for human use, and by default sets up a third. These are: POM, GSL medicines and P medicines.
POMs are those that are listed in the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 as amended. This is an order made under the primary legislation, the Medicines Act 1968, and is subjected to amendments from time to time. POMs can
usually only be legally sold or supplied from a pharmacy against a valid prescription issued by an authorized prescriber. Exemptions apply for sales and supplies made by various practitioners to patients under their care, for example by pharmacists or nurses under a patient group direction which specifies the exact circumstances of the supply.
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