Standard Operating Procedures were required to be in place by January 2005 in every registered pharmacy in the UK. They represent the formalisation of best practice with good clinical governance built in all aspect of pharmacy systems and activity. Guidance is available on the RPSGB website.

The LPC, with support from a number of Hampshire & IoW PCTs and PDGs, commissioned LPC member Gary Warner to finish the SOP initiative he began on the Isle of Wight at the instigation of the Island's PCT and PDG. The SOP Editor he developed is computer-based, not paper based like many in the market, and is thus a living and dynamic system. Easily set up and amended, the system which was originally only available to contractors in Hampshire and the IoW, is now freely downloadable from this site.

Click here for a sample Procedure on prescription reception.

Click here to download the installation program and save the file on your desktop. Once downloaded, double-click on the file to install the program.

Please Note: The SOP Editor will install on a Windows XP system using this download system. If your system is older (eg Windows 98) then you will need to obtain an installation disc. These are available from the LPC for a charge of £20 to cover administration costs.

 

A new guide to writing SOPs in the online document section or you can download here - it contains broad guidance on the style and content of SOPs plus advice on how to make sure your team has ownership of the completed procedures.

The Department of Health has also written guidance on SOPs for managing Controlled Drugs which can be accessed by clicking here.