{"id":26971,"date":"2022-10-12T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/?p=26971"},"modified":"2022-10-12T12:31:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T11:31:25","slug":"medical-cannabis-pharmacies-what-are-your-rights-as-a-patient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/2022\/10\/12\/medical-cannabis-pharmacies-what-are-your-rights-as-a-patient\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical cannabis pharmacies – what are your rights as a patient?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a medical cannabis patient do you know your rights when it comes to choosing where your medication is dispensed?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Since medical cannabis was legalised almost four years ago, in November 2018, there are now more than <\/span>20,000 patients who hold legal prescriptions, for a range of conditions from chronic pain<\/a> to anxiety.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Around 22 private clinics<\/a> are currently prescribing cannabis and an increasing number of pharmacies<\/span> are legally dispensing cannabis products across the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

While unusual with other medicines, as it stands it is not uncommon for cannabis clinics to have pharmacies associated with them. But what many patients don\u2019t realise is that they have the freedom – and the right – to choose where they get their medicine dispensed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Patients do not have to use the pharmacy which is recommended by their clinic or doctor. In fact, according to guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC) doctors should not attempt to influence a patient\u2019s healthcare choices \u2018to their own benefit\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does the guidance say?<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)<\/a> has a section on its website dedicated to prescription direction, which refers to a patient<\/span> being directed to a certain pharmacy for their prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prescription direction applies to both private and NHS prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The PSNC refers to the GMC guidelines and states that \u2018patients should be free to choose from which pharmacy to have their prescribed medicines dispensed and doctors must not allow their own or their employers\u2019 financial or commercial interests in a pharmacy to influence the way they advise their patients.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

It adds: \u2018A doctor\u2019s failure to adhere to these standards could form the basis of a complaint of professional misconduct.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The GMC guidance the PSNC refers to is called <\/span>Financial and commercial arrangements and conflicts of interest.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Under the section entitled \u2018<\/span>decisions about patient care<\/span><\/i>\u2019, it states: “You must not try to influence patients\u2019 choice of healthcare services to benefit you, someone close to you, or your employer. If your organisation dispenses medicines, you must not allow your financial or commercial interests to affect the way you prescribe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is responsible for the regulation of<\/span> pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacies in Great Britain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of its role to ensure people receive safe and effective care, the body sets standards for pharmacy professionals and registered pharmacies.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

A representative from the GPhC said that while they had not produced specific guidance on prescription direction, pharmacists operating in both the NHS and private sector were expected to \u2018use professional judgement\u2019 and \u2018declare any personal or professional interests\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They stated: \u201cOur standards expect pharmacy professionals to use their professional judgement so that they deliver safe and effective care. They are expected to declare any personal or professional interests and manage these professionally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also expect pharmacy professionals to consider and manage appropriately any personal or organisational goals, incentives or targets and make sure the care they provide reflects the needs of the person.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur standards apply in all contexts and settings and do not differentiate between NHS and private prescriptions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What does this mean for patients?<\/b><\/h4>\n

As a patient, once your doctor has deemed you eligible for medical cannabis you can ask for a copy of your prescription and take it to any UK pharmacy which is authorised to dispense cannabis products. You can find a list of all dispensing pharmacies <\/span>here\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Either you or your doctor can email the pharmacy directly to start the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is worth noting that an independent pharmacy may have a larger range of products available, as they are not affiliated with any specific suppliers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Botanical Health Dispensary<\/a> is working with one of the few wholly independent pharmacies currently dispensing cannabis in the UK, through its affiliated pharmacy, Leyes Lane.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pharmacist Caroline Harvey, has over 35 years experience and was responsible for dispensing the first legal prescription for medical cannabis in the UK in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

She told<\/span> Cannabis Health: \u201c<\/span><\/i>At Botanical Health Dispensary we are committed to helping patients find the best possible value and service for having their prescriptions dispensed. To achieve this it is essential that we remain totally independent from any specific clinic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur affiliated pharmacy, Leyes Lane, can dispense prescriptions from any legal clinic in the UK and has a range of authorised suppliers. You can be assured that your medication will be sourced and supplied with integrity, patient wellbeing and value for the patient uppermost.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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