The Medicines (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009

• Citation: S.I. 2009/3062
• Sections: 4

Section 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1) This Order may be cited as the Medicines (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 and shall come into force on 21st December 2009.

(2) In this Order—

“ the Act ” means the Medicines Act 1968;

“clinical management plan” means a written plan (which may be amended from time to time) relating to the treatment of an individual patient agreed by—

the patient to whom the plan relates;

the doctor or dentist who is a party to the plan, and

any supplementary prescriber who is to prescribe, give directions for administration or administer under the plan;

“medicinal product” includes any article or substance in respect of which section 130(1) of the Act (meaning of “medicinal product” and related expressions) has effect;

“mixing of medicines” means the combining of two or more medicinal products together for the purposes of administering them to meet the needs of a particular patient;

“nurse independent prescriber” means a person (“N”)—

who is a registered nurse or a registered midwife, and

against whose name is recorded in the professional register an annotation signifying that N is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a nurse independent prescriber or a nurse independent/supplementary prescriber;

“pharmacist independent prescriber” means a person (“P”)—

who is a pharmacist, and

against whose name is recorded in the relevant register an annotation signifying that P is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a pharmacist independent prescriber;

“the Pharmacy and General Sale Order ” means the Medicines (Pharmacy and General Sale – Exemption) Order 1980 ;

“the POM Order ” means the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 ;

“supplementary prescriber” means a person (“S”) who is a—

a registered nurse;

a pharmacist;

a registered midwife;

a person whose name is registered in the part of the register maintained by the Health Professions Council in pursuance of article 5 of the Health Professions Order 2001 relating to—

chiropodists and podiatrists;

physiotherapists;

radiographers: diagnostic or therapeutic,

a registered optometrist,

against whose name is recorded in the relevant register an annotation or entry signifying that S is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a supplementary prescriber or, in the case of a nurse or midwife, as a nurse independent/supplementary prescriber.

Section 2 Exemption to the restrictions imposed by sections 7 and 8 of the Medicines Act 1968

The restrictions imposed by sections 7 and 8 of the Medicines Act (general provisions as to dealing with medicinal products and provisions as to manufacture and wholesale dealing) do not apply to the mixing of medicines by—

(a) a nurse independent prescriber or a pharmacist independent prescriber;

(b) a supplementary prescriber but only where the mixing of medicines forms part of the clinical management plan for an individual patient;

(c) a person in accordance with the written directions of a—

(i) doctor;

(ii) dentist;

(iii) nurse independent prescriber; or

(iv) pharmacist independent prescriber;

(d) a person in accordance with the written directions of a supplementary prescriber but only where the mixing of medicines forms part of the clinical management plan for an individual patient.

Section 3 Amendment to Schedule 5 to the POM Order

(1) Schedule 5 to the POM Order (exemption for certain persons from section 58(2) of the Act) is amended as follows.

(2) In Part 2 (exemptions from the restriction on supply) , at the end add—

9 The supply shall be—

in the course of P undertaking any function as a member of Her Majesty’s armed forces; and

where P is satisfied that it is not practicable for another person who is legally entitled to supply a prescription only medicine to do so; and

only in so far as is necessary—

for the treatment of a sick or injured person in a medical emergency, or

to prevent ill-health where there is a risk that a person would suffer ill-health if the prescription only medicine is not supplied.

(3) In Part 3 (exemptions from restriction on administration), at the end add—

10 The administration shall be—

in the course of P undertaking any function as a member of Her Majesty’s armed forces; and

where P is satisfied that it is not practicable for another person who is legally entitled to administer a prescription only medicine to do so; and

only in so far as is necessary—

for the treatment of a sick or injured person in a medical emergency, or

to prevent ill-health where there is a risk that a person would suffer ill-health if the prescription only medicine is not administered.

Section 4 Amendment of the Pharmacy and General Sale Order

(1) The Pharmacy and General Sale Order is amended as follows.

(2) In article 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) after the definition of “registered dietician” insert—

“registered dispensing optician” means a person who is registered in the register of dispensing opticians maintained under section 7(b) of the Opticians Act 1989 ;

(3) In Schedule 1 (exemptions for certain persons from sections 52 and 53)—

(a) in Part 1 at the end add—

13. Pharmacy medicines for external use containing chloramphenicol at a strength not exceeding—

0.5 per cent in eye drops;

1 per cent in ointment.

(b) in Part 2 at the end add—