pom emergency supplies

[naf123]

In the MEP33, page 15, it discuss the conditions of making an emergency supplies to the requests of patients.

Without going into the debate about lazy patients who cant be bothered to order their prescriptions on time etc, I want to know what are the possible consequences of NOT making a supply?

The only consequences I can think of, is civil law - you will be responsible for any adverse effect to the patient as a result of not supplying their medication. E.g You refused to give GTN spray to a patient out of hours, and he collapsed with angina pain and ended up be hospitalised undergoing emergency interventional cardiology surgery such as an aginoplasty.

Is it really serious if you refuse to supply a patient under civil law? Also according to our code of ethics - its our responsibility to use our knowledge for the safety and well being of our patients. Will we be hauled before the RPSGB for breaching the code of ethics and being asked to explain our actions?

Interesting to see your thoughts......

[Sir_Dispensalot]

The only consequences I can think of, is civil law - you will be responsible for any adverse effect to the patient as a result of not supplying their medication. E.g You refused to give GTN spray to a patient out of hours, and he collapsed with angina pain and ended up be hospitalised undergoing emergency interventional cardiology surgery such as an aginoplasty.

well let's face it - if you know it's a med urgently needed or a patient will die, then naturally you would be inclined to supply. In your example however you forget that GTN is a P med so in theory is exempt from em supply regs and can be sold/loaned/jumped up and down on at the pharmacists' discretion.

I think we also need to make a big difference between the lazy patient and the patient with genuine need. The lazy 'repeat offender' (if you pardon the bad expression) would get directed to the out of hours gp service for a script for items - thus inconveniencing them and making it more likely they will 'remember' in future. Also, if a gp surgery is open then whilst it is still perfectly legal for you to do an em supply you are under no obligation to do so - if there's a doctor at the surgery then a script can be produced for the patient at some point - let the lazy patient brave the wilds of the reception team.

Having said that we all have experienced a situation that will come into the realms of the patient with a genuine need - be them wheezing away having forgotten a ventolin, out of town and dropped their insulin down a drain, etc, etc.

It really boils down to judgement & experience - you know what's needed or not by the situation and it's normally easy to sort the piss-takers from those in need.

If we spent all our time wondering about what we could potentially get sued for or not then we wouldn't be able to do our jobs. And firms wouldn't offer indemnity insurance!

[roper]

I would say that a consequence of not supplying could be that the patient (unprepared to take the other actions that you reasonably suggested) does without a vital medicine e.g Warfarin, then tries to put the blame on you when their test results are all messed up and they have to go back every couple of days. Or a patient who does not have sufficient understanding of it's importance, skips insulin doses instead of going to the emergency doc. They might try to pin it on you but it is really their fault. In many situations I question how reasonable it is for the GP's receptionist to turn these patients away without even informing the GP that they made a request for a prescription urgently as it is an wmergency - but I see it happen. They get passed to us.

[johnep]

Yes we are just the convenience.
johnep

[Defblade]

I don't know if it's the new font on this forum, or my head, but I read the title as "porn emergency supplies" (sadly disappointed when I clicked ).

[johnep]

It is not ES that is the problem, it is the fact that pts expect it all FOC and want a loan. OK where you collect the script but have had out of town pts promising a script from their Dr or saying they will return with five tabs etc. (The latter is common with DD pts)

One SOP says all ES must be charged for, but pharmacy still makes loans.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

In the MEP33, page 15, it discuss the conditions of making an emergency supplies to the requests of patients.

Without going into the debate about lazy patients who cant be bothered to order their prescriptions on time etc, I want to know what are the possible consequences of NOT making a supply?

The only consequences I can think of, is civil law - you will be responsible for any adverse effect to the patient as a result of not supplying their medication. E.g You refused to give GTN spray to a patient out of hours, and he collapsed with angina pain and ended up be hospitalised undergoing emergency interventional cardiology surgery such as an aginoplasty.

Is it really serious if you refuse to supply a patient under civil law? Also according to our code of ethics - its our responsibility to use our knowledge for the safety and well being of our patients. Will we be hauled before the RPSGB for breaching the code of ethics and being asked to explain our actions?

Interesting to see your thoughts......

So in theory a patient being treated with MST 30mg Tablets could do that as well if you refused a supply?
Lets sue the pharmacist then.

Suppose someone asked and was refused Nitrazepam 5mg Tablets.
They failed some important exam the next day as they had no sleep previous night.
Lets sue the pharmacist then.

Sometimes patients come to us because the surgery says "48 hours notice for a script" patients don't tell the surgery they have run out in case they get told off.

Lets sue the pharmacist then.

An investigative journalist goes into a pharmacy and convinces the pharmacist they need ES of some POM.
Lets publish an article that pharmacists are reckless with ES rules.

[naf123]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Sir_Dispensalot - my bad re- the classification of GTN spray - I'm still a student!

everyone else: - from your comments, it seems a hefty minimum charge for ES is required. Anyone who wants an ES will get slapped with a charge of £50. If they really need it, they will pay up!

It seems to me, that it would be very difficult to get prosecuted under civil law or even called into RPSGB disciplinary board as really there are alternative ways for the patient to get their medicines if they really needed it - out of hours GP, surgery etc.

[naf123]

I don't know if it's the new font on this forum, or my head, but I read the title as "porn emergency supplies" (sadly disappointed when I clicked ).

yeah when I posted it, I got a bit scared i spelt pom wrong! :-)

[Nik]

I read the title as "porn emergency supplies" (sadly disappointed when I clicked )

Supplies for when you forget your DVD's and mags from Amsterdam ?