OSCE Toolbox | Basic Clinical Check 1 - Scenario

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Scenarios

Basic Clinical Check 1

By Leya Luhar • May 02, 2026 • Last reviewed: •

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Summary Beginner

In this scenario, the student performs a clinical check on a paper FP10 NHS prescription, using the prescription and patient medication record (PMR) provided at the station.

Please ensure that this scenario and mark scheme align with the most up-to-date BNF and legal prescribing requirements when using it for your OSCE assessment.

There is no actor for this station; the student works independently and communicates their findings to the assessor at the end of the allotted time.

Revision Topics

Be aware, this may reveal any answers!

Clinical check framework (Year 1 scope):

Patient characteristics: age, gender, pregnancy/breastfeeding, renal and hepatic function, allergies
Indication: is the medicine appropriate for the patient's condition?
Dose, strength, and frequency: are they correct per the BNF for this patient?
Formulation and route: is an appropriate preparation available?
Quantity: is the amount supplied consistent with the prescribed regimen?

Atorvastatin

Using the BNF

Student Instructions

You are a pharmacy student on placement in a community pharmacy. The supervising pharmacist has handed you a prescription and the patient's medication record (PMR) and asked you to carry out a clinical check before the prescription is dispensed.

To do:

Using the PMR provided, check that the prescription is clinically appropriate for this patient.
Communicate your clinical checking process aloud to the assessor.
Tell the assessor whether the prescription is clinically valid, and if not, what amendment is required.

You have 6 minutes.

You have access to the BNF.

The following prescription will be available at the station.

The following PMR will be available at the station.

Actor Instructions

This may reveal scenario objectives!

Mark Scheme

Clinical Check - Patient Characteristics

0 / 3

Notes patient age (62) and gender

no concerns for this medicine

Checks for allergies/intolerances

none recorded

Checks renal and hepatic function from PMR

both normal, no dose adjustment required

Clinical Check - Indication

0 / 1

Confirms the indication from the PMR (hypercholesterolaemia) is an appropriate indication for atorvastatin

Accept: hypercholesterolaemia, prevention of cardiovascular events, or dyslipidaemia.

Clinical Check - dose, frequency, strength, quantity

0 / 5

Identifies the correct BNF dose for atorvastatin — once daily

Identifies the clinical error: frequency is prescribed as TWICE daily — this is incorrect

States the required amendment: change frequency to ONCE daily

The student must state the amendment clearly and correctly. Simply saying "the frequency is wrong" without stating what it should be changed to is insufficient.

Identifies that the quantity (56) is inconsistent with a once-daily regimen and states it should be reduced to 28

Accept any statement recognising the quantity is too high given once-daily dosing for 28 days.

Confirms the strength (40 mg) is appropriate and within the BNF range for this indication

Clinical Check - Formulation and route

0 / 1

Confirms the formulation (tablet, oral route) is appropriate and available for this medicine

Communication

0 / 2

Presents findings in a logical, structured order to the assessor

The student should work through patient characteristics, then clinical checks in a sensible order. They do not need to use exact headings.

States clearly and confidently whether the prescription is clinically valid and what action is required

Patient Safety

0 / 1

The student did not make a statement that could lead to patient harm

This includes but is not limited to: declaring a prescription with a clinical error as valid without identifying the error, or stating an incorrect amendment that would result in an unsafe dose.

Time Management

0 / 1

Completed the scenario in time and achieved 70% of marks

References

Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. [online] London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. Available at: https://bnf.nice.org.uk [Accessed May 2026].
Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Clinical checks: Pharmacy Guide (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.rpharms.com/resources/pharmacy-guides/clinical-checks [Accessed May 2026].
NHS England. FP10 prescription forms. [online] Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/prescriptions [Accessed May 2026].

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