Category: Controlled drugs

Understand the legal requirements for controlled drugs, including prescribing, storage, record-keeping, and compliance with CD schedules.

Controlled drugs Emergency supply of medicines Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Prescription requirements Safe dispensing practices

Prescriber restrictions

Doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons acquire prescribing powers through their professional registration, although doctors must also hold a licence to practise. They have been joined by independent and supplementary prescribers from several other healthcare professions who may prescribe after completing an approved education programme and obtaining the relevant annotation on their professional register.

The existence of a legal prescribing power does not mean that a prescriber may appropriately prescribe every medicine. All prescribers must:

This article summarises the principal legal restrictions applying to each prescriber group.

Controlled drugs Emergency supply of medicines Patient group directions (PGDs) Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Record-keeping requirements

Emergency Supply of Medicines

Emergency supply allows a pharmacist to provide a medicine without a prescription in defined circumstances. It is a statutory exemption under UK medicines law and is commonly used in community pharmacy to ensure continuity of care.

Emergency supply is governed by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/contents

Controlled drugs Prescription requirements

British Military Prescriptions (FMed 296): How Community Pharmacies Should Handle Them

Military prescriptions in the UK are usually issued on FMed 296 forms rather than standard NHS FP10 forms. For community pharmacy teams, the key point is that FMed 296 prescriptions are generally intended for Ministry of Defence (MOD)-contracted pharmacies, not routine NHS pricing.

This article explains what an FMed 296 is, when it can be dispensed, and what happens if it is presented to a non-contracted pharmacy.

Military prescription handling is a mix of general medicines law and specific MOD/NHSBSA operational arrangements. The core legal framework for prescription-only medicines remains the

Controlled drugs Prescription requirements Safe dispensing practices

European Prescriptions

Pharmacists in the UK may occasionally be presented with prescriptions issued abroad. The legal position is specific and limited—only certain prescriptions from defined countries are recognised.

This article explains which foreign prescriptions are valid, what “Europe” means in law, and what pharmacists must check before dispensing.

The supply of prescription-only medicines (POMs) is governed by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/contents

Controlled drugs Emergency supply of medicines Pharmacy premises standards Prescription requirements Safe dispensing practices

Faxed and Digital Prescriptions

Pharmacies are frequently presented with faxed prescriptions, emailed copies, or photos on a patient’s phone. While these may appear convenient, they raise important legal and patient safety issues.

This article explains what is and is not legally valid, and how pharmacists should approach these situations.

Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/contents

Controlled drugs Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Prescription requirements Safe dispensing practices

Dental Prescriptions

Dental prescriptions can create uncertainty in practice, particularly around what dentists are legally allowed to prescribe and what pharmacists can safely supply. This article clarifies the legal position and the key practical rules.

Dentists are recognised as appropriate practitioners under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/regulation/214/made

👉 This means:

Controlled drugs Handling complaints and patient safety Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Pharmacy inspections and enforcement Pharmacy premises standards Record-keeping requirements Remote and online pharmacy services Safe dispensing practices

Online Pharmacies and Remote Prescribing

The growth of online prescribing and distance-selling pharmacy services has introduced significant risks around the safe and appropriate supply of medicines. In response, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has strengthened its regulatory expectations for pharmacies operating remotely, particularly where prescribing is carried out online.

Pharmacy owners, superintendent pharmacists, and responsible pharmacists must ensure that any supply made through an online model meets both legal requirements and professional standards.

Registered pharmacies in Great Britain are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council under the Pharmacy Order 2010, which gives the GPhC enforcement powers over pharmacy owners, superintendent pharmacists, and pharmacy professionals.

Controlled drugs Medicines licensing Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Prescription requirements Safe dispensing practices

GnRH Analogues and Puberty Suppression

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are used in clinical practice to suppress puberty. In the UK, their use in children and young people for gender incongruence or gender dysphoria is subject to specific legal restrictions.

Pharmacists must ensure they understand both the legislative framework and the practical implications for dispensing, particularly where prescriptions originate from private or non-UK prescribers.

The sale and supply of medicines in the UK is governed by the
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/contents
(Human Medicines Regulations 2012).

Controlled drugs Medicines licensing Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Poisons and hazardous substances Safe dispensing practices

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are substances designed to produce psychoactive effects similar to controlled drugs but may not initially fall under traditional drug control laws. Their regulation in the UK is primarily governed by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, a psychoactive substance is defined as a substance that:

“is capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person”