GMC has published updated guidance on prescribing, to support doctors who are increasingly seeing patients via remote and virtual consultations.  February 2021

Key updates include:

• New advice for doctors not to prescribe controlled drugs unless they have access to patient records, except in emergencies.
• Stronger advice on information sharing, making it clear that if a patient refuses to consent to share information with other relevant health professionals it may be unsafe to prescribe.
• Alignment with the GMC’s updated Decision making and consent guidance, highlighting the importance of good two-way dialogue between patients and doctors in all settings.