Pharmacists in England will have the option of dispensing up to 10 per cent more or less than the quantity prescribed for NHS prescriptions so they can be supplied in original packs from January 1, 2025.

A regulatory amendment allowing original pack dispensing (OPD) of NHS prescriptions, signed off by the health minister Stephen Kinnock, follows a change in regulations in October 2023 that allowed pharmacists to dispense up to 10 per cent more or less than the amount prescribed for private prescriptions.

Community Pharmacy England said pharmacists will not be compelled to dispense up to 10 per cent more or less but will be required to use their professional judgment to decide if it is suitable for NHS prescriptions.

“It is not expected to be appropriate in all cases,” CPE said. “For example, if a patient is prescribed antibiotics or steroids and the supervising pharmacist considers that the patient should be supplied with the exact quantity prescribed to be able to follow the medication regimen, OPD +/- 10 per cent dispensing should not be used.”

The amendment is being made to the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2024 (PLPS).

CPE added: “The PLPS amendments will require the supervising pharmacist to consider OPD +/- 10 per cent dispensing from 1 January 2025 but they don’t require its use.

“For example, IT system suppliers may not introduce the necessary changes to the pharmacy IT system until after 1 January 2025, or there may not be the appropriate stock in the pharmacy.”