This functionality is only available using the Electronic Prescription Service in England and Wales.
ScriptCheck will retain a clinical check for a patient from a previously dispensed prescription, where all items have previously been clinically checked. When the repeat prescription is next dispensed, the clinical check is automatically retained, subject to no changes having been made to the prescription.
During the dispensing process, if it is identified that the exact same medications have been previously dispensed and clinically checked for the same patient within the last 6 months (by default), then the prescription will show as having been clinically checked (or retained) when being added to the ScriptCheck queue.
The retention of the clinical check has been registered as a Medical Device and is marked with the UKCA certification.
At any time, you can access an explanation of how the clinical check retention works by simply clicking the info icon to the right of the blue bar.
Retention check
As the script is processed through the PMR, ScriptCheck is carrying out checks in the background. During the dispensing process, if it is identified that the exact same medications have been previously dispensed and clinically checked for the same patient within the last 6 months, then the prescription will show as having been clinically checked (or retained) when being added to the ScriptCheck queue.
The following criteria must match exactly:
- Prescription item.
- Quantity.
- Dose.
- In some cases, the dispensed item.
If all tests are met, the most recent clinical check is used and applied to the script. On the ScriptCheck Manager screen, the script is tagged as 
alongside the details of the pharmacist responsible and the date of the clinical check. If no clinical check has been retained, N/A is displayed in the Check Retained column, and the Clinically Checked column will be blank. The prescription is required to be clinically checked by a pharmacist.
First time
When ScriptCheck is first used, there will be no scripts that have a retained clinical check. Scripts with a retained clinical check will gradually build up as repeated prescriptions are processed and clinically checked for each patient. Over time the pharmacy will benefit from the improved efficiencies made by the clinical check retention feature.
Clinical check reset
If any changes have been made to a script that has previously been clinically checked, that active clinical check is reset (removed) until another clinical check is done. This reset mechanism will result in all medication for a patient in the queue to have their clinical checks cleared, preventing any further activity until a new clinical check is completed. The reset will happen because of one of the following:
- The clinical check retention has expired for this script (6 months).
- A change in the prescribed strength.
- A change in the prescribed drug form.
- A change to the prescribed dose.
- A change to the dispensed product choice manufacturer (if brand continuity has been indicated).
- An item has been locally dispensed and not dispensed via ScriptCheck.
- A new drug has been added to the PMR.
- The addition of SSP endorsement to a drug.
- The addition of, or change to the prescriber notes.
- The addition of the medical exemption in the patient details.
- The addition of the maternity exemption in the patient details.
- The addition of, or change to the Allergy in PMR.
- The addition of, or change to the Condition in PMR.
- The prescription has been returned to the Spine.
- A drug is marked as ND.
- The dispensing of a Controlled Drug schedule 2.
- An edit to a drug.
A change to the following parameters will NOT reset the clinical check.
- Change in severity of an existing or a new drug interaction for a drug that has a clinical check retained.
- Change of a new drug alert authored that has a clinical check retained.
- Change in a BNF warning on label for a drug that has a clinical check retained.
Maximising your clinical check retention
The clinical check is done whenever a dispensing activity takes place for a patient and includes any items that have been processed during that dispensing activity, and where the items in that activity are clinically checked together.
If a new dispensing event takes place for different items, this is classed as a change to the PMR and as such, any retained clinical checks already saved will be removed.
For example, if the patient has a script processed for items with a retained clinical check but then a second script is processed later that day or week for a different item, the clinical check for the first script will be reset and not retained. The check will need to be repeated for the first script when it is next dispensed.
Tips to help you to maximise the clinical check
- Make sure that all scripts for the patient have been processed and are in the clinical check queue before the pharmacist confirms the check
- Use batch function in ETP to print token batches by patient name and process them together to be checked together
- If you are managing a patient’s repeat medication, make sure all scripts have been returned before you start processing
- If the dosage information has been amended on a script, use the F9 Quick Dispense functionality when dispensing the repeated script to ensure the same details are always applied
KB5001769