Society Responds To The Draft Pharmacy Order 2009 Consultation Results

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 17 Jun 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) welcomes the signs of good progress in establishing a new regulator and professional leadership body after the Department of Health published the draft Pharmacy Order 2009 consultation report today. The Department ran the consultation jointly with the Scottish Government from December 2008 until March this year.

The Order will establish the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) which will be the new regulator for Great Britain's pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in 2010.

The RPSGB is pleased with the provisions proposed to enable the GPhC to regulate registered pharmacies in a way that is reflective of modern premises, along with the wider definition of practising that has been made in the draft Order. The organisation welcomes the acknowledged need to be aware of the difference in healthcare delivery across England, Scotland and Wales, specifically towards ensuring regulation is not unnecessarily burdensome.

It is, however, disappointed to see there is no indication that there will be a non-practising register when the GPhC is formed.

The RPSGB gave its first ever two-part response to the consultation earlier this year to reflect its changing roles. It highlighted the Society's commitment to building a top quality professional body and a regulator which has a balanced approach, focussing on patient safety and quality of care without stifling professionalism and innovation.

Focusing on Regulation, Wendy Harris Deputy Registrar and Director of Regulation, said; "There is still a lot of preparatory and detailed work to be achieved if the GPhC is to be ready on day one but we believe it is on the right track and the results of the consultation bring us one step closer. "We are working towards a regulator that inspires the confidence of the public and the professions it regulates. It must also be robust, fair, accountable, cost-effective and efficient. "Today's announcement places a firm emphasis on public protection and quality of care and that must be the focus of our attention and our actions." Speaking on behalf of the national pharmacy boards for England, Scotland and Wales on the Professional Leadership Body, Beth Taylor said; "The three national pharmacy boards are pleased that many points raised in the professional body's response were embraced by the department. Most significantly there is a recognition of the need to work differently in England, Scotland and Wales to reflect the differing healthcare delivery models. We particularly welcome the clear separation of standards for premises from standards for practice and the varying need to align with other healthcare regulatory bodies in each country. It is disappointing though, that the Society's proposal to retain a non-practising register has not been accepted.

"This report acknowledges the way forward for a regulator that can work hand in hand with the new professional body for pharmacy, and can maintain the right balance between the needs of the public and the profession.

"Much of the important detail that will affect pharmacists in their daily work remains to be drafted in the rules and standards, and we look forward to working with the Department to develop them." The draft Pharmacy Order now has to be finalised before it is laid in Scottish and Westminster Parliaments. The next stages will include the Constitution Order, which will give the detail of the composition of the Council, and the completion of the work which has begun to develop the rules and standards of the GPhC under the Order. The Society is looking forward to the opportunity to comment on the Constitution Order and the rules and standards once they are published for consultation.

Notes

Following the publication in 2007 of the Government White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, the Society is working towards the demerger of its regulatory and professional roles. This will see the establishment in 2010 of a new regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, as well as a new professional body for pharmacy.

The Society, in its professional leadership body role, leads and supports the development of the pharmacy profession within the context of the public benefit. This includes the advancement of science, practice, education and knowledge in pharmacy. In addition, it promotes the profession's policies and views to a range of external stakeholders in a number of different forums.

The new regulator, the GPhC, will have the following principal functions:

- provide for statutory regulation of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- establish and maintain a register of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises
- establish and promote standards of proficiency for the safe and effective practice of pharmacy in registered pharmacies
- establish and maintain requirements by reference to which registrants must demonstrate that their fitness to practise is not impaired
- promote the safe and effective practice of pharmacy by registrants
- establish and promote standards in respect of education, training, continuing professional development, acquisition of experience necessary to achieve entry onto the register, or to receive an annotation in the register and to maintain competence.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain