Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Amendments to Primary Care Terms of Service relating to the Electronic Prescription Service) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 1st July 2015.

Amendment of Schedule 6 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004

2.-(1) Schedule 6 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004(2) (other contractual terms) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 39 (which relates to prescribing)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (4)(a), omit "non-electronic"; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (5), omit "non-electronic".

(3) In paragraph 39A (electronic prescriptions), in sub-paragraph (1)(c)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (i), for "Schedule 4 or 5" substitute "Schedules 2 to 5", and at the end of that sub-paragraph insert "or"; and

(b)omit sub-paragraph (ii).

(4) In paragraph 42 (restrictions on prescribing by medical practitioners), after sub-paragraph (2) insert the following sub-paragraph-

"(2A) Where, pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) or (2), a drug, medicine or other substance is prescribed under a private arrangement, if the order is to be transmitted as an electronic communication to a chemist for the drug, medicine or substance to be dispensed-

(a)if the order is not for a drug for the time being specified in Schedule 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001(3), it may be transmitted by the Electronic Prescription Service; but

(b)if the order is for a drug for the time being specified in Schedule 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, it must be transmitted by the Electronic Prescription Service.".

Amendment of Schedule 5 to the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004

3.-(1) Schedule 5 to the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004(4) (other contractual terms) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 38 (which relates to prescribing)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (4)(a), omit "non-electronic"; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (5), omit "non-electronic".

(3) In paragraph 38A (electronic prescriptions), in sub-paragraph (1)(c)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (i), for "Schedule 4 or 5" substitute "Schedules 2 to 5", and at the end of that sub-paragraph insert "or"; and

(b)omit sub-paragraph (ii).

(4) In paragraph 41 (restrictions on prescribing by medical practitioners), after sub-paragraph (2) insert the following sub-paragraph-

"(2A) Where, pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) or (2), a drug, medicine or other substance is prescribed under a private arrangement, if the order is to be transmitted as an electronic communication to a chemist for the drug, medicine or substance to be dispensed-

(a)if the order is not for a drug for the time being specified in Schedule 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001(5), it may be transmitted by the Electronic Prescription Service; but

(b)if the order is for a drug for the time being specified in Schedule 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, it must be transmitted by the Electronic Prescription Service.".

Amendment of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013

4.-(1) The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013(6) are amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 (terms of service of NHS pharmacists – essential services – dispensing of drugs and appliances), in sub-paragraph (4), for "Schedule 4 or 5" substitute "Schedules 2 to 5".

(3) In paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 (terms of service of dispensing doctors – dispensing of drugs and appliances ordered by another prescriber), in sub-paragraph (4), for "Schedule 4 or 5" substitute "Schedules 2 to 5".

(4) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 7 (mandatory terms for LPS schemes – dispensing), in sub-paragraph (3), for "Schedule 4 or 5" substitute "Schedules 2 to 5".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Service Contracts) Regulations 2004 ("the GMS Regulations") and the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004 ("the PMS Regulations"), which make provision for England in respect of the services provided under general medical services contracts and personal medical services agreements for the provision of primary medical services. They also amend the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 ("the PLPS Regulations"). The PLPS Regulations govern the arrangements, in England, under Part 7 of the National Health Service Act 2006 for the provision of pharmaceutical services and local pharmaceutical services.

The GMS and PMS Regulations contain similar NHS terms of service in respect of the prescribing undertaken by contractors (commonly, GP practices). These Regulations remove the restrictions which prevent the use of an electronic prescription for the prescribing by instalments of buprenorphine, diazepam or drugs listed in Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 ("the MD Regulations") (regulations 2(2) and (3)(b) and 3(2) and (3)(b)). Electronic prescribing of drugs listed in Schedule 2 or 3 to the MD Regulations, via the Electronic Prescription Service, also becomes permitted. Previously, this was only permitted for controlled drugs listed in Schedule 4 or 5 to the MD Regulations (regulations 2(3)(a) and 3(3)(a)).

In limited circumstances, private prescribing is permitted in the course of providing NHS treatment under a general medical services contract or a personal medical services agreement. In circumstances where it is permitted, an amendment is made to clarify that the Electronic Prescription Service may be used in order for the prescription to be transmitted to a chemist. However, if an electronic prescription is wanted and the prescription is for a drug listed in Schedule 2 or 3 to the MD Regulations, use of the Electronic Prescription Service for the transmission to a chemist is obligatory (regulations 2(4) and 3(4)).

Providers of pharmaceutical services and local pharmaceutical services (commonly, chemists or dispensing doctors) have previously only been allowed to dispense electronic prescriptions for controlled drugs if these were received via the Electronic Prescription Service and related to drugs listed in Schedule 4 or 5 to the MD Regulations. These restrictions are eased so these providers may now also dispense electronic prescriptions received via the Electronic Prescription Service for controlled drugs listed in Schedule 2 or 3 to the MD Regulations (regulation 4).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it does not have an adverse regulatory impact on business