To ensure that the needs of patients are safely and efficiently met, this Access Statement has been prepared by Smartway Pharma Limited (the Pharmacy) for the benefit of those healthcare professionals (Prescribers) who send prescriptions to the Pharmacy for their patients (Patients) through professional clinic partners who have arrangements with the Pharmacy to send their prescriptions (Partners).

The Pharmacy rely on the professional judgment, skill and expertise of Prescribers who work directly with Partners, and the Pharmacy rely on Partners having adequate procedures in place to ensure patient safety. It is ultimately the Prescribers who decide whether the medicines on the Prescription are appropriate including any dosing, on account of the patient health, their own professional judgement and expertise. The Pharmacy has limited information on which to form a view, as it seldom has access to full medical records.

From time to time, the Pharmacy are required to contact Prescribers to clarify their intentions. This might be where the prescription is unclear, there appears to be indicated off-label use, it appears to be outside of an understood pathway or other similar reasons. This can impact the ability of the Pharmacy to fulfil prescriptions as promptly as it would like, meaning Patients can receive medicines later because time is spent resolving queries.

To reduce the risk to patients including in delaying fulfilling a prescription, we have explained below three points that we would ask all Partners (and their Prescribers) to be aware of. Those points are:

(a) Firstly, we expect that all Prescribers and Partners have in place written procedures to ensure that Prescribers only prescribe medicines when they are satisfied they have sufficient knowledge of the Patient’s health and that they are content that the prescription is fully justified, including in prescribing medicines for use off-label or an unlicensed medicine.

(b) Secondly, we expect Prescribers to follow the information and guidance provided in the British National Formulary (BNF), whilst also taking into consideration the guidance published by NICE (England), pertaining to any medicines that they propose to prescribe for a Patient. We would expect this to be formalised in the written procedures, so that good information about any side effects or risks are also properly understood and dosing decisions can be based.

(c) Thirdly, we request that prescriptions are clear about what is being prescribed. Our preference is for Prescribers to use SmartRX, to guarantee a fully legible and clear prescription for the relevant Patient.

By doing this, we can help Patients, Prescribers and Partners in offering a seamless, safe and efficient service.