RPSGB Responds To The Dispensing Doctors' Association Announcement Of The Launch Of A DDA Register Of Dispensers, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 26 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) recognises the increasing role of pharmacy technicians in community pharmacy. In response to the Dispensing Doctors' Association (DDA) announcement on the launch of their non-statutory Register of Dispensers, it is necessary to provide an overview of the regulation of pharmacy technicians who not only dispense, but are involved in wider medicines management and other areas of technical assistance, to support the growing clinical role of pharmacists.

The RPSGB opened its voluntary Register of Pharmacy Technicians in January 2005, to assure patient safety in advance of statutory regulation. Separate to its Register, the RPSGB has a range of policies covering minimum training and competence requirements for pharmacy support staff, using a team approach to regulation.

Unlike the RPSGB, the DDA has no statutory regulatory powers and the dispensing qualification to register on the DDA list is not comparable to entry on the voluntary Register of Pharmacy Technicians. The qualification level for registration with the RPSGB is set higher than for GP dispensers, as pharmacy technicians have a wider role in supporting the delivery of high quality patient care. This is important in assuring patient safety and public confidence in the care received through pharmacies.

The current pharmacy services qualifications for dispensing and pharmacy assistants (level 2) and pharmacy technicians (level 3) are not readily transferable between the two environments because of the different supervision requirements. In addition to a level 3 qualification, the registration criteria for entry to the Register of Pharmacy Technicians requires applicants to have had work experience under the supervision, direction or guidance of a pharmacist.

The RPSGB reached a compromise with the DDA in 2004, allowing pharmacy technicians, who now work for dispensing GPs, to apply to the Register providing they have undertaken a minimum level of work experience in a pharmacy environment.

The RPSGB is happy for this arrangement to continue and sees this as important in ensuring that, whenever patients have their medicines dispensed, patient safety is at the forefront of the training provided to the staff who undertake this crucial and potentially high risk activity.

The RPSGB and the DDA are currently working with Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council for the UK health sector) to review both qualifications and to reach agreement on whether a single suite of qualifications can be developed, or if different qualifications are required for the two environments.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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