NHS prescriptions and working collaboratively

CPH would like to take this opportunity to remind all community pharmacies that it could be considered NHS fraud if you download and claim for an NHS prescription before the patient has picked up the item/s. Please be aware that this can be reported and potentially investigated.

It is essential that all pharmacies work collaboratively together and do not claim for prescriptions that may have inadvertently been sent to them. You are encouraged when requested by another pharmacy that has a patient in front of them to send this prescription back to the spine so this can be downloaded by the other pharmacy. It is inappropriate for the GP practice to be issuing additional prescriptions because your pharmacy has already claimed the prescription but the patient has not yet picked up their medications.

Please remember it is the patient’s choice about which pharmacy they choose to have their medication dispensed from and they should not be put under any pressure to have their medication from a particular pharmacy.