Society Launches Tools For Responsible Pharmacists

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 29 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is launching new tools to provide pharmacists with the professional support and information they need to implement the Responsible Pharmacist regulations that come into force on 1 October 2009.

All practising pharmacists and pre-registration trainees will receive the Responsible Pharmacist Toolkit, along with new Professional Standards and Guidance on the regulations on 2nd May.

Developed with members, the Toolkit is a practical resource that aims to engage pharmacists in active learning and contains case studies, scenarios, learning objectives and a 'test your knowledge' section to work through. It also includes pullouts, frequently asked questions and specific information for different parts of the workforce, such as pharmacy owners and locums.

Marc Donovan, Chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board who took the lead in developing the resource said: "The Toolkit is very different from what's gone before and a great example of what the new Professional Leadership Body will provide for its members.

"Working closely with grassroots pharmacists, we have devised a highly practical resource that clarifies complex changes in the regulation of pharmacists and meets the real needs of those involved in everyday practice."

The Professional Standards and Guidance for Responsible Pharmacists will be sent with the Toolkit and supplements the Society's Code of Ethics. They set out the mandatory professional standards all pharmacists must abide by along with guidance on good practice when implementing the new regulations.

The Health Act 2006 and Responsible Pharmacist

The responsible pharmacist regulations were laid on 29 October 2008, and are due to come into force on the 1 October 2009. The regulations set the quality framework for the safe and effective operation of the pharmacy, which will underpin the proposed changes to supervision.

The responsible pharmacist will have a series of statutory duties and must:

- Secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy, including during periods of absence
- Display a notice with their name, registration number and the fact that they are in charge of the pharmacy at that time
- Complete the pharmacy record to identify who the responsible pharmacist is for a pharmacy at any one time
- Establish (if not already established), maintain and keep under review safe procedures for working.

New standards and guidance on Continuing Professional Development will also be included in the mailing that pharmacists will receive on 2nd May.

Source
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

• Additional
• References
• Citations