30th May 2023
Guidance for Purchasing and Administration of Medicines by Paramedics and Private Ambulance Providers.
Individual Paramedics
Individual paramedics may order any prescription only medicines (POM) from Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations. They may also order any P medicines for administration to a patient. They may not make a supply of any medicine.
Schedule 17 morphine and diazepam will require a private requisition number which can be obtained from your local controlled drugs accountable officer.
Private Companies.
Private companies will require a doctor’s requisition (also known as a doctors order or doctors authority) for ordering any medication. This is because any transaction between a wholesaler and company is classified as a company-to-company supply and is not covered by schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations.
In addition, due to the above private companies who wish to obtain controlled drugs must have a Home Office Controlled Drugs License.
All other POMs including schedule 19 medicines require a doctor’s requisition for supply and in the case of rectal diazepam (a schedule 4 CD) possession.
The College is grateful and wishes to acknowledge the advice provided by Well’s Offshore Wholesaler dealers for the guidance above.