Each time a pharmacist dispenses a prescription for you they are required to keep a record of
the medications they issue on a computer program.
These records are kept to improve the safety of dispensing medicines and help give you
appropriate advice.
For example, this system allows the pharmacist to check for possible interactions between any
combinations of medicines being issued to you, check for potential interactions between new
medicines being issued and ones that you are already taking (only if you have previously had
medicines issued to you from the same pharmacy).
Although the system for recording can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy generally the information
held will be the same.
You are entitled to have a copy of your record if you wish under the Freedom of Information Act
but there may be a small fee payable depending on the amount of information you ask for and the
format in which you require it.
Click here
to see ABC Pharmacy's Freedom of information act publication scheme.
All records are strictly confidential, just like those that your doctor keeps. ABC Pharmacy keeps
a secure backup of the data using services approved by the NHS and National Pharmacy Association
and all pharmacy records must be kept for a minimum of two years.
The following information is held by ABC Pharmacy's patient record system:
- Your name and address
- A telephone number if you have supplied it – this is useful if we need to contact you or if you want items delivered
- Your date of birth which can be important for checking dosages or suitability of medications
- Your doctor, dentist or other prescriber’s details
- Information indicating if you normally pay for your prescriptions or not – if you do not have to pay your pharmacist will record the reason why
- Details of each medication we have dispensed to you:
- Name of the medication, strength and form
- The quantity issued and the dosage
- The date and time each supply has been made
- If we do not have all of your medicine in stock we will keep a record of what is outstanding for supply at a later date
- Allergies you have or medicines that you cannot take if you have informed the pharmacist of these. We record this so that possible problems with new medicines can be checked.
- Special requirements e.g. bottles that are easy to open.
- Special delivery instructions – if you have your medicines delivered by the pharmacy.
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Your pharmacist may also keep a record of any discussions that have been had about queries relating to your
medicines, or if we have carried out a medicines use review
click here
to find out more about a medicines use review.