Self prescribing GPs.

[Beanwig]

I've just started managing a pharmacy which is within the same complex as the health centre. Today I was out at a meeting and on return I was notified by my relief cover that one of GPs next door had came in and self prescribed himself some co-amoxiclav. I questioned the dispensary staff about this who said that his prescribing habits are often not exemplary i.e. prescribing for family members etc. The surgery is fairly busy and have at least 6 regular doctors there so I'd imagine he could have quite easily had a script signed by one of the other GPs there. So my question is how do I tackle this? Do I wait until it happens again or act now? Is there anything in my power I can do or merely warn the doctor that it is against the GMCs code of conduct? I haven't had the chance to meet the doctor in question yet so I have no idea of his age, personality etc. but I get the impression he is a senior partner at the surgery.

Any help or advise appreciated!

[crit care]

the fact its against GMC code of conduct speaks for itself...if he has an issue with that then he should raise it with the GMC.....or go to another pharmacy to get his script!

[johnep]

I had this many times. I had a print out of the BMJ article and the Drs all said, 'as long as it is legal, I will do it and none of your business.'
One of the reasons why the government wants to take over regulation of the profession. Dr Shipman only got a slap on the wrist the first time he transgressed. The GMC is loathe to take away a persons livelihood, the RPSGB had no such qualms. Loss of income would usually mean loss of house and break up of a marriage and frequently descent into alcoholism. They struck people off after two years of traumatic waiting with gay abandon.
johnep

[hibernia]

I had this many times. I had a print out of the BMJ article and the Drs all said, 'as long as it is legal, I will do it and none of your business.'

Which begs the question, it is the job of a pharmacist to police the GMC code of conduct?

[johnep]

They expected this in the case of Dr Shipman.
johnep

[cymru72]

Did manage to get a self-prescribing eye hospital consultant in trouble once. He had self prescribed three months supply of amlodipine, simvastatin and candesartan on a HHS hospital px with the eye hospital as the dept!

He was an arrogant SOB so I made a telephone call to the counter fraud dept of the pct. They seemed to take it quite seriously.

I think he was only told that he had been a very naughty boy and not to do it again.

I can understand that he may have run out of his drugs and would not have time to get to his GP, and so if it had been for one months supply I probably would have let it go, but three months issue was really taking the mickey.

[johnep]

Excellent, perhaps you could persuade the PCT to tell GPs and that they have requested pharmacies to report any Dr self prescribing. We need the GMC to get some 'cojones' and tell the Drs that pharmacists have been requested to report cases of self prescribing direct to the GMC
johnep

[Beanwig]

the fact its against GMC code of conduct speaks for itself...if he has an issue with that then he should raise it with the GMC.....or go to another pharmacy to get his script!

That response doesn't really help me though. Are you saying I should refuse to dispense and therefore make it the pharmacist up the road's problem?

[Defblade]

That response doesn't really help me though. Are you saying I should refuse to dispense and therefore make it the pharmacist up the road's problem?

hmmmm......

If you decide to refuse and the Dr doesn't get the rational then yes it may become the pharmacist up the road's problem. No different to refusing a P med sale. They may have refused him already which is why he's at your shop!

On the whole though, I don't worry about occasional self/family scripts for things like antibiotics. When it's hypnotics etc I refuse point blank (even in the face of johnep's experience - "it's legal". But it's not ethical and I'm not doing it here. Would you like me to ring the GMC and clarify things? I'm still not dispensing it.). Remember private scripts are easier as there is no requirement under NHS contract to dispense at all.

[DispenserJosh]

I think we are forgetting that Beanwig is managing a dispensary which is in close proximity of a health centre in which the doctor in question is a suspected senior partner. If it is bad practice then it needs to stop really. Do you think the doctor will try and steer business away from you if you call him up on it?