Published: 22/09/22

Summary

Patient signatures on prescription forms and updated privacy notice.

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that patient signatures are no longer required on the majority of prescription forms. It also provides an updated privacy notice for display in all community pharmacies.

Background

The requirement for patients or their representatives to sign prescription forms was temporarily suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic as an operational matter to reduce the risk of transmission.

Details

It has been agreed with the pharmacy contractor body, Community Pharmacy Scotland, and NHS National Services Scotland, that the temporary suspension should now continue as normal practice.

With immediate effect, patient signatures are required only in the following situations:

• Where the prescription is for a controlled drug; or

• Where, in the pharmacist’s judgement, a signature from the patient or their representative is desirable; or

• Where the prescription is generated by a GP practice in England and prescription charges exemption status needs to be selected.

In all other situations the form does not need to be signed by the patient, a representative or a pharmacy staff member. This advice applies only to NHS prescriptions.

An updated privacy notice is provided as an Annex to this circular. It is vital that all community pharmacies must display this privacy notice in a prominent position within the pharmacy as this provides members of the public with information about the use of data and complies with their right to be informed about data sharing.