script signing

[jayde-89]

the company i work for recently said to us that we have to sign the backs of all the scrips
but i want peoples opinions on this matter ?
we do care homes and lots of them so can easily end up with 500+ scripts in a week or so now half of these scripts are over 60 and the rest are not and claim certain benifits etc
but what my issue is are we in a legal place to sign all these scripts as we are not the patients legal representative?
the managers at some of these care homes have already admitted that there benifits are 2 years out of date but wont do anything about it , but yet store manager and pharmacist still want us to sign our names and addresses

please help on this matter

[PtitpupUK]

The form itself says that you don't need to sign if age-related exemption and the age is printed on the prescription (only computer if I am not wrong).

Problem is companies keep getting prescriptions with unticked boxes, no signatures etc... I know, this happens all the time in my branch. So they end up getting switched to paid. If they managed to get people to sign for ALL prescriptions there is less of a risk.

Methinks it would be better to train the staff properly instead ! Like don't benefits/tax credit related exemptions have to have the name DoB and NI number filled? Like when you hand out a prescription double check patient has filled properly instead of getting a signature and then just shove it under the counter in the prescription basket. Like when you have a prescription in your hand, check before filing it away in the tray for collected prescriptions, just in case you get confused and you're putting in the basket a prescription that you've just been handed in. Like when you get an exemption card instead of mechanically write the numbers down work out whether the exemption is still in date...
Thing is... maybe we're not the best organised pharmacy, so when it gets to the point when we have to sort out prescriptions, because there are some that will not get a signature because of a mistake, they will get mixed with the ones not signed because of age exemption, and then we'll have to check them all anyway, so we might as well get them signed.
The other thing is... we have quite a lot of forgetful elderly patients that will collect their prescription and then come back at a later time to collect it again... so we've decided to get patients to sign on receipt, so that when they come back we can say you've signed for it go back home and check.
But to be honest, if I were in your position, and had hundreds of nursing home scripts, I would probably not bother (but then it's not my decision I am only a technician) as long as the prescriptions are kept separate and you can identify them when you count them, I don't see why that would be a problem.

[Defblade]

Remember that if you do sign them, you take on the responsibility if the declaration is fraudulent. IIRC, it's a fine of £100 (or was it £1000?) per item. As I understand it, even if they are exempt and the wrong box has been ticked, it's still an offence. Obviously not a problem with computer generated over 60's with a DoB on.


I would suggest that you find a way of sorting this out ASAP; your area manager really can't insist that you do something illegal (did someone mention constructive dismisal? ) so you're on strong ground there. Insist that you or your staff are no longer prepared to take the risk and put the ball back in the company's court. I'm quite sure the SOPs will back you up too - if not, they need reviewing.

[PtitpupUK]

Oh yea I didn't read the part about the ones being on benefit... when I was in a shop where we used to do care homes, we used to send the scripts to the nursing home when delivering the MDS and they would sign it all there and then and the driver would take them back. Maybe that's what you should do. The carers/nurses will probably moan but that won't be your problem.

[razorbladekisses]

I recently went to a training day on 'bundle switching' we were told to get the patient/patients rep. to tick the exemption box and sign. For care home scripts we were told to tick the exemption box and where it says signature put -------------- and then use the branch stamp for the address. They said that as long as something was in the box the computer scanner wouldn't switch it to paid.

[Defblade]

For care home scripts we were told to tick the exemption box and where it says signature put -------------- and then use the branch stamp for the address. They said that as long as something was in the box the computer scanner wouldn't switch it to paid.

Did they say who would take the rap if that script is one of those randomly double-checked by hand by the counter fraud unit, and the exemption was found to be incorrect? If it was "in-house" training, I bet they didn't mention that.....

.....I also bet they didn't mention crossing the "evidence not seen" box when that is the case......


.....in other words, you work illegally to maximise their profit

[razorbladekisses]

My apologies I forgot to say it was for care home scripts where the patient was over 60.

[jayde-89]

thank you every one i have personally said that this is fraud and we are NOT the patients legal representative and that it is wrong for us to sign all these when we dont know what there declaration is... does anyone have any information or evidence stating that this is fraud and that we should not be signing this scripts i want something in blackk and white that i can present to my manager and pharmacist on this matter ~
many thanks

[jayde-89]

i see , im really worried about this i know we cannot be forced to do this but it almost seems as if they bully us into doing it ill quote what the pharmacist said to us
" if we all didnt sign these scripts like you the company we go bust and we will all lose our jobs if we dont sign the scripts so you better do it "

what would you suggest me to do ?

[sam12]

hi
A similar issue when you do repeat prescriptions which are then delievered to patients how do you get the patients to sign there prescriptions each month?