These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 (“the principal Regulations”), which govern the arrangements to be made by Health Boards for the provision in their area of pharmaceutical services under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

Regulation 2 introduces into regulation 2 of the principal Regulations definitions of “Charges Regulations”, “directed services”, “prescription forms” and “Remission of Charges Regulations”. It also amends the definition of “pharmaceutical services” and substitutes a new paragraph (1A) which provides a specific description of nurse or health visitor mentioned in the definition of “nurse prescriber”.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 3 of the principal Regulations by removing the provision of supplemental services from the arrangements for the provision of pharmaceutical services which must be made by a Health Board.

Regulation 4 amends paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (terms of service for pharmacists) to introduce sub paragraph (1A) providing that a pharmacist shall refuse to supply an order under a prescription where the pharmacist reasonably believes that the order is not genuine.

Regulation 4(4) introduces into Schedule 1 of the principal Regulations paragraph 3A which requires pharmacists who enter into an arrangement to provide “directed services” to comply with the terms and conditions of the arrangement.