“countersigning means the issuer signing the charted treatment of a patient to whom medicine has been administered or supplied under a standing order”.

“registration authority means a body listed in the Schedule”.

• “(j) specify whether countersigning is required; and

• “(ja) if countersigning is required, specify—

  • “(i) the period within which the issuer must countersign the charted treatment; and

  • “(ii) any other requirements for countersigning that the issuer considers appropriate; and”.

“6A Periodic audit of charted treatments in certain cases

• If a standing order does not require the countersigning of charted treatments, or requires countersigning less frequently than once each month, the issuer must, at least once each month, audit a sample of the charted treatments of patients to whom medicines have been administered or supplied under the standing order.”

“8 Functions of issuer

• The issuer has the following functions:

  • “(a) to ensure that—

    • “(i) the standing order clearly sets out the expectations of the parties; and

    • “(ii) the provisions of regulations 5 to 7 are complied with; and

    • “(iii) if countersigning is required, he or she countersigns the charted treatment within the period specified in the standing order, and in accordance with any other requirements for countersigning specified in the standing order; and

    • “(iv) in addition to the audit required by regulation 6A and the review required by regulation 7, there is a process in place for monitoring and reviewing the correct operation of the standing order and, in particular, any adverse incidents that occur; and

    • “(v) the standing order is made available to every person permitted to supply or administer a medicine under the standing order, an employer of any practitioner or practitioner who is not an issuer, any person affected by the standing order, and, on request to the Director-General or any person authorised by the Director-General, any member of the public; and

  • “(b) to impose any requirements for countersigning in the standing order that he or she considers appropriate.”

“12 Transitional provision for standing orders issued before 1 August 2011

• Regulations 5 and 8 as they were in force immediately before 1 August 2011 continue to apply to standing orders issued before that date as if the Medicines (Standing Order) Amendment Regulations 2011 had not been made.”