Leyla Hannbeck, head of pharmacy at the National Pharmacy Association, shares the answers to three of the 700 questions fielded every day by the NPA’s Information Department

Q: Is it legal for a doctor to issue post-dated prescriptions?

A: Yes. Doctors can legally issue post-dated prescriptions for a patient, which can be retained by the patient or the pharmacy for dispensing when required. This is because the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 Regulation 217 states that a prescription must contain an appropriate date. The Regulations define the appropriate date as: “The later of; the date on which it was signed by the appropriate practitioner giving it, or, a date indicated by the appropriate practitioner as the date before which it should not be dispensed”. Therefore prescriptions must not be dispensed before the appropriate date indicated by the prescriber.

Q: I have received an FP10 prescription for benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1% gel with a quantity of 25g; what pack size will I be reimbursed for?

A: Benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1% gel is listed as a Category C item in the England and Wales Drug Tariff October 2015, with the reimbursement price based on Duac Once Daily gel 10mg/g+50mg/g in pack sizes of 25g and 50g. Therefore, a prescription calling for benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1% gel with a quantity of 25g will be reimbursed at the price for the 25g quantity if 25g is dispensed and endorsed. However, Duac Once Daily gel 10mg/g+50mg/g in pack sizes of 25g and 50g have both been discontinued and it is now available in pack sizes of 30g and 60g. If the 30g pack size is supplied and endorsed, reimbursement will be based on the 30g pack size because this is classed as a special container.

Q: Is a care worker working in a care home eligible to receive the flu vaccine under the NHS national flu immunisation programme 2015/16?

A: No. They are not eligible to receive the vaccine under the NHS national flu immunisation programme. However, Public Health England has recommended that all health and social care workers who have direct contact with patients or service users should be vaccinated against flu under their employer’s occupational health obligation.