Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1

What is a distance selling pharmacy?

Accepted Answer

A distance selling pharmacy is a GPhC-registered pharmacy that dispenses and supplies medicines to patients without them needing to visit in person. All orders are processed remotely and delivered directly to the patient or care home. AB Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC No. 9013289) as a distance selling pharmacy.

Question 2

Is AB Pharmacy registered with the GPhC?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AB Pharmacy is fully registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a distance selling pharmacy. Our registration number is 9013289. You can verify this directly on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.

Question 3

Who is the superintendent pharmacist?

Accepted Answer

Our superintendent pharmacist is Ashok Karsan Hirani (GPhC No. 2044923). The superintendent pharmacist is responsible for the safe and effective running of the pharmacy and ensuring all dispensing activities comply with GPhC standards.

Question 4

Which areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

As a distance selling pharmacy, we serve care homes and patients across England. Our services are delivered remotely, so there is no requirement for your care home to be in a specific geographic area.

Question 5

How do I nominate AB Pharmacy for EPS?

Accepted Answer

You can nominate AB Pharmacy as your Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) pharmacy through your GP surgery or by asking your GP to update your nomination on the NHS Spine. Once nominated, your prescriptions are sent electronically to us and we dispense and deliver them directly to your care home. Contact us at info@abpharmacy.co.uk and we can guide you through the process.

Question 6

What is MDS blister packing?

Accepted Answer

Monitored Dosage System (MDS) blister packing is a service where we pre-pack residents' medications into clearly labelled blister trays organised by day and time. This reduces the risk of medication errors, simplifies administration for care home staff, and supports accurate record-keeping. Each tray is prepared and checked by our qualified pharmacists.

Question 7

Can you supply controlled drugs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AB Pharmacy is authorised to dispense Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 5 controlled drugs in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. All controlled drug supplies are handled in strict compliance with NHS and GPhC requirements, with full audit trails maintained.

Question 8

Do you provide emergency medication supplies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer an emergency supply service for situations where a resident urgently requires medication outside of the normal prescription cycle. Please contact us directly by phone on 020 4619 5452 so our pharmacist can assess the request and arrange supply as quickly as possible.

Question 9

Can you support medication reviews for care home residents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our clinical pharmacists can support structured medication reviews for care home residents, working alongside GPs and nursing staff to optimise medication regimens, reduce polypharmacy where appropriate, and improve resident outcomes.

Question 10

How do we set up a partnership with AB Pharmacy?

Accepted Answer

Getting started is straightforward. Contact us via our enquiry form or call 020 4619 5452 and one of our team will arrange an initial consultation. We will assess your care home's needs, explain our services, and agree a service level that works for you. We aim to make the transition from your current pharmacy as smooth as possible.

Question 11

What information do you need from our care home to get started?

Accepted Answer

To begin dispensing for your residents, we typically need: a signed service agreement, a list of current residents and their prescriptions, GP surgery contact details for EPS nomination, and any specific medication administration requirements. Our team will guide you through each step.

Question 12

How quickly can you start dispensing for our residents?

Accepted Answer

In most cases we can begin dispensing within a few working days of completing the onboarding process, including EPS nomination and receipt of the first prescriptions. We will keep you informed at every stage and ensure there is no gap in medication supply during the transition.

Question 13

Do you provide staff training on medication management?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer guidance and support to care home staff on safe medication administration, storage requirements, and record-keeping best practice. Our pharmacists are available to answer questions and provide advice to help your team maintain the highest standards of medication safety.

Question 14

How do I make a complaint?

Accepted Answer

We take all complaints seriously. In the first instance, please contact us at info@abpharmacy.co.uk or call 020 4619 5452. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can escalate your complaint to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) at pharmacyregulation.org or to the NHS via NHS England.

Question 15

How do you protect patient data?

Accepted Answer

We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO Registration No. ZC221773) and process all patient data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our full privacy policy is available on our website.

About AB Pharmacy

Services & prescriptions

Care home partnerships

Complaints & compliance

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