DISPENSARY

Standard Operating Procedure

HOME DELIVERIES

Objectives
This SOP is designed to ensure the integrity of the surgery’s delivery service to patients in
the rural community.

This SOP will ensure:

 That appropriate consent/s are given and recorded

 That deliveries take place in accordance with practice procedures
 That patient confidentiality in maintained.

Scope
This SOP will detail the procedure to be followed when delivering medicines to the patient’s
address.

Operating Standards for surgery drug deliveries

1. The delivery will take place at [insert day and time of delivery/ies].
2. From every patient to whom the service is extended and before deliveries are
started, obtain written consent detailing the requested duration of the delivery
service and all authorised recipients.

3. Collect prescription charge or obtain a signed exemption declaration from the

patient regarding their status for paying the prescription charge.
4. If this is not practical:
 The practice may sign the exemption declaration on behalf of the patient, but the
practice must be sure that this is correct before doing so
 A note detailing prescription charge/s owed should be affixed to the prescription bag
for delivery and collected from the patient on delivery. A note of the charge/s owed
and paid can be made in the delivery schedule copy (see point 7).
5. On the day before the delivery is scheduled to take place:
 Go through any owings to check that these can be fulfilled
 If owings cannot be fulfilled, inform the patient
 Secure delivery item bags with tape or staples
 Securely label each bag with patient’s name and address and the amount of
prescription charges owing
 Prescription forms for CD items also to be attached to the relevant bag.
6. On the day of the delivery, prepare a dated delivery list containing the following
details:
 Name and address of the patient/s prescriptions to be delivered
 Name/s of the authorised recipient/s
 Number of forms, items and type of prescription per patient to be delivered
 Amount of prescription charges owed/paid
 Special storage instructions, ie, fridge.
 DISPENSARY
Standard Operating Procedure

HOME DELIVERIES

7. Photocopy this list. One copy goes with the courier. The delivery schedule and
prescription items should be stored in a secure location, and where patient
information is not publicly visible. The other copy stays at the surgery and should be
placed in [insert office location]. Delivery records should be kept for three months.
8. At each destination, obtain a verified signature from the patient or the authorised
representative collecting the delivered items.
9. Prescription forms for CD items to be signed by the authorised recipient and
returned to the dispensary.
10. At the end of the delivery, signed documentation from delivery driver to be attached
and filed with surgery copy for audit purposes.
11. Medicines must not be posted through letterboxes or left with unauthorised
representatives.
12. If no patient or authorised representative is present to take delivery of the
medication then the medication must be returned to the surgery. Dispensary staff
should be informed so a note can be made in the records.
13. Dispensary staff should attempt to contact the patient to arrange another suitable
delivery time.

Responsibility
Dispensers, delivery staff

Review
This SOP will be reviewed annually, when there are any changes in legislation affecting the
process, or in the event of any change to staff, or any increase or decrease in the
competence level of staff. The SOP will also be reviewed following a critical incident.

The responsibility for reviewing the SOP is with the Dispensary Manager.

Date of Preparation: Date next review Updated Date next

due by review due
Prepared by:
Signature: Date review takes
Version number: place and
signature of
reviewer
 DISPENSARY
Standard Operating Procedure

HOME DELIVERIES

I have read and understood this standard operating procedure.

Date Name Signature