1. Changes To MEP

This section provides information on what a clinical audit is and why it is important. Also included is signposting to how to conduct a clinical audit and examples of audits templates.

Includes information on what self-checking is and an outline of points to consider before self-checking to limit errors occurring, if the pharmacists think it is deemed necessary to conduct self-checking.

Update information on the general topics RPS guidance covers.

Includes reference to the RPS and GPhC joint statement “Using standards to help provide safe and effective care for members of the public”.

Updated details on the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum.

Information on the RPS Expanding Prescribing Scope of Practice guidance.

Signposting to RPS Research and Evaluation guides on RPS website.

Updated information on the Just Culture Guide.

Includes details and signposting to information on the new legal defence for criminal offences relating to inadvertent preparation or dispensing errors by registered pharmacy professionals to professionals working in hospitals and other pharmacy services (e.g. in prisons and care homes) (The Pharmacy (Preparation and Dispensing Errors – Hospital and Other Pharmacy Services) Order 2022).

Updated Further Reading section with additional resources.

Importance of pharmacists and pharmacy teams asking appropriate questions to help decide if referral is appropriate to manage long term pain treatment.

Updated section title to “Faxed and Digital copies of prescriptions”. Includes information to consider when supplying against digital copies of prescriptions.

Updated section with signposting to SPS guidance on PSDs and removal of guidance on verbal/telephoned requests to administer medicines.

Added reference to the FAQ "Can I advise that a client use over the counter human medicines for their animal?" from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons website.

Included a requirement to hold a WDA to wholesale human medicines for veterinary use under the cascade.

Prescriber’s address and Address of Patient – updated advice confirmed from Home Office that the use of PO Box is acceptable.

Signposting to the RPS support alert titled “Clarification on validity period of Controlled Drug Prescriptions “to the Further Reading section.

Further clarification and an example on instalment dispensing using the Home Office approved wording.

Misprint in print MEP 45 (July 2022) stated the legal category of Nabilone as "POM", this has been corrected in MEP 46 (July 2023) to state the legal category of Nabilone as "Schedule 2 CD".

Information on the recent change in pharmacy legislation - Pharmacy (Responsible Pharmacists, Superintendent Pharmacists etc.) Order 2022 and the role of the regulators GPhC and PSNI in relation to this change.

Reproduced GPhC Standards and Guidance in MEP updated in line with updates made by GPhC www.pharmacyregulation.org.