Purpose
This document provides guidance to enable appropriate access for pharmacist independent prescribers (users) involved in delivering prescribing-based services in community pharmacy when using a smartcard.
Overview
Users will require an NHS assured and approved Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) prescribing system and have the appropriate roles-based access control (RBAC) attributed to their smartcard in order for them to use EPS and apply an electronic digital signature to prescriptions. This guidance covers smartcards but authentication with other devices is available.
This guidance is for integrated care boards (ICBs), local registration authorities (RA), pharmacy contractors, and independent prescribing pharmacists. It is focussed on the specific smartcard RBAC for users involved in delivering prescribing-based services in community pharmacy.
General registration authority smartcard administration and policy within community pharmacy is covered separately (see Care Identity Service).
RBAC position considerations
In many cases, the prescribing solution will be deployed alongside existing pharmacy management record (PMR) systems, with users requiring access to both systems simultaneously. This may require the addition of existing pharmacy dispensing RBAC activities to be added to the user’s independent prescriber access. Therefore, the creation of separate positions to accommodate both prescribing only and prescribing + dispensing activities should be considered. These can then be applied appropriately according to any specific requirements identified following PMR system testing. This should be explored with the relevant PMR and EPS system suppliers.
RBAC roles and activities required for prescribing
The user’s access should be assigned against the individual pharmacy contractor organisation data service (ODS) code (F code). Users will require the following:
| RBAC role | Activity codes | User type |
|---|---|---|
| R8003 – Health Professional Access Role | B0420 Independent prescribing B0278 Perform prescription preparation (also provides access to EPS tracker) B0468 Cancel prescription B0401 View patient medication | Pharmacist independent prescriber |
| Appending the activities below will enable continuation of access to existing PMR systems within the same role. | ||
| B0572 – Manage pharmacy activities B0068 – Verify Prescription B0257 – View non-ETP clinical data | ||
| The addition of Summary Card Records (SCR) access should only be provided if the user has completed the SCR training requirements process (Getting started with SCR in community pharmacy – NHS Digital) | ||
| B0264 – Access SCR | ||
Note: The activity codes above are required to be explicitly added to the user’s position(s), even where they may already exist in an activities’ baseline.
Locum pharmacists
The National FFFFF (5Fs) organisation code used to enable access across multiple pharmacy contractors, will NOT be used when assigning users prescriber access.
Important: a user that currently only uses 5Fs positions/roles to perform pharmacy PMR activities, must be given the appropriate independent prescribing RBAC for the individual pharmacy contractor ODS code where the user is providing prescribing-based services. They may require the addition of pharmacy dispensing activities to allow continued access to existing PMR system functions. This should be explored with the relevant PMR and EPS system suppliers during testing.
Smartcard version
It is advised that a user’s smartcard is the latest version and that any recommended software is installed (according to the Care Identity Service and the PMR and EPS system suppliers).
User professional registration and annotation
A user must only be assigned the independent prescribing access role if they are professionally registered as an independent prescriber with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Professional registration and independent prescriber annotation can be found using the General Pharmaceutical Council Registers.
Any processes to assess the declaration of practice and competency in addition to the above would need to be established and agreed by the ICB and pharmacy contractor.
Removal of access
Removal of independent prescribing role access should happen in a timely manner according to local RA policy and processes established and agreed by the ICB and pharmacy contractor.
Publication reference: PRN02380vi