Online & Remote Prescribing (SOP)

1. SOP Title

Online and Remote Prescribing SOP

2. SOP Reference

SJ-ORP-SOP-001

3. Effective Date

01/01/2026

4. Review Date

01/01/2026

5. Version

1.0

6. Purpose

This SOP sets out the procedures and safeguards for safe, effective, and compliant online and remote prescribing, ensuring that prescribing decisions are clinically appropriate and meet regulatory requirements.

This SOP supports compliance with:

• Human Medicines Regulations 2012

• MHRA guidance on distance selling and online prescribing

• CQC regulatory requirements and Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs)

• Professional standards for safe prescribing

7. Scope

This SOP applies to:

• All online and remote consultations resulting in a prescribing decision

• All Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) prescribed remotely

• All prescribers and staff involved in online or remote service delivery

8. Principles of Online and Remote Prescribing

The organisation ensures that:

• Remote prescribing is clinically equivalent in safety to face-to-face prescribing

• Prescribing decisions are based on adequate clinical information

• Patients are appropriately identified and assessed

• Prescribing is never driven by convenience or commercial factors

9. Roles and Responsibilities

9.1 Clinical Lead

• Provides oversight of online and remote prescribing practices

• Ensures clinical pathways are evidence-based and appropriate

• Reviews audits, incidents, and prescribing trends

9.2 Prescribers

• Must be appropriately registered and authorised

• Are responsible for ensuring sufficient information is obtained to prescribe safely

• Must decline prescribing where remote assessment is inadequate

9.3 Non-Clinical Staff

• Must not influence prescribing decisions

• Must follow SOPs relating to onboarding, verification, and escalation

10. Patient Identification and Verification

• Patient identity must be verified prior to prescribing.

• Minimum identifiers include:

  • Full name

  • Date of birth

  • Address

• Where appropriate, photographic identification may be requested.

11. Clinical Assessment Requirements

• All remote prescribing must be preceded by an appropriate clinical assessment.

• Assessments may include:

  • Structured medical questionnaires

  • Review of medical history and current medications

  • Identification of contraindications and red flags

  • Follow-up questions or clarification where required

• Prescribers must be satisfied that they have sufficient information to prescribe safely.

12. Prescribing Decision

• Prescriptions may only be issued where clinically appropriate.

• Prescribers must consider:

  • Clinical need

  • Suitability of remote prescribing for the medicine

  • Whether face-to-face assessment is required

• If remote prescribing is not appropriate, the prescription must not be issued.

13. High-Risk and Excluded Medicines

• Medicines requiring physical examination, immediate monitoring, or complex diagnostics must not be prescribed remotely unless appropriate safeguards are in place.

• A list of excluded or restricted medicines must be maintained and reviewed regularly.

14. Separation of Prescribing and Payment

• Patients must not be induced to purchase medicines.

• No payment may be taken and no medicine supplied until a prescribing decision has been made.

• Prescribers must remain independent of commercial processes.

15. Prescription Verification and Supply

• All prescriptions must be verified prior to supply.

• Medicines supplied must match the prescription exactly.

• No POM may be supplied without a valid prescription.

16. Patient Information and Follow-Up

• Patients must receive appropriate information on:

  • Safe use of the medicine

  • Potential side effects

  • When and how to seek further advice

• Follow-up and monitoring arrangements must be in place where clinically required.

17. Record Keeping

• All consultations, assessments, and prescribing decisions must be documented.

• Records must be:

  • Accurate

  • Secure

  • Auditable

18. Incident Reporting and Escalation

• Any concerns, near misses, or incidents relating to remote prescribing must be reported.

• Issues must be escalated to the Clinical Lead for review and action.

19. Training and Competency

• Prescribers involved in online prescribing must be trained and competent in remote consultation.

• Training records must be maintained and reviewed.

20. Audit and Review

• Online and remote prescribing activity will be audited periodically.

• Findings will inform service improvement and risk management.

• This SOP will be reviewed annually or in response to regulatory change.

21. Linked Policies and SOPs

• Medicines Management Policy

• Prescription Requirement Prior to Purchase of POMs SOP

• Prescribing Policy

• GLP-1 Prescribing SOP

• Weight Management Service SOP

• Consent and Capacity Policy

• Incident Management Policy

• Data Protection and GDPR Policy

22. Approval

Approved by: Caroline Balazs
Role: Lead Clinical Prescriber
Date: 01/01/2026