Prescribing in Practice Part 1 (c) Legal Issues (2)

Categories of medicines under Medicines Act (1968)

Category General sales list (GSL) Paracetamol 500mg tabs (16) Restrictions on availability They must be sold in original package, there may be limits on pack size and must be sold from permanent premises e.g. garage Pharmacy medicines (P) Paracetamol 500mg tabs (32) Prescription only medicine (POM) Paracetamol 1g qds 100 tabs Can only be sold from a registered pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist who can refuse the sale Can only be supplied or authorised for supply by an appropriate practitioner

Controlled Drugs

• Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 aims to prevent the misuse of drugs that are ‘dangerous and harmful’ • They are grouped in Schedules 1-5 • 1 no medicinal use ecstasy, LSD • 2 around 100 substances mainly opiates • 3 barbiturates, temazepam, buprenorphine • 4 split into benzodiazepines and anabolic/growth hormones • 5 preparations of certain CDs pholcodeine, codeine

Controlled drugs (CDs)

• Nurse / midwife independent prescriber are restricted to prescribe only certain CDs solely for specific medical conditions if this falls within their scope of practice • A nurse/midwife or Allied Health Professional supplementary prescriber can prescribe any schedule 2-5 CD for any condition within their competence as part of a patient specific, written clinical management plan agreed with the Dr & the patient

Controlled Drugs

See Department of Health, Nurse Prescribing Frequently Asked Questions www.dh.org.uk (accessed 3/8/11)

Facilitator’s note:

ensure up to date list of Controlled Drugs is used see www.dh.org.uk or Home Office website www. homeoffice.gov.uk Controlled Drugs Legislation- Nurse prescribing and patient group directions for details

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