RPSGB guidance

On September 22, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain issued guidance to assist the profession in implementing the responsible pharmacist requirements.
You can download the guidance by clicking here >>

This guidance was developed in collaboration with the UK Health Departments and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and in accordance with the prevailing national or country specific legislation, and case law.
 
The guidance sets out a list of key relevant activities and clarifies whether they:

1. Require a responsible pharmacist to be in charge of the premises (s/he may be absent for up to two hours per day) and will need to take place under the supervision of a pharmacist and who will need to be present at the premises.
2. Require a responsible pharmacist to be in charge of the premises (s/he may be absent for up to two hours per day) and will need to take place under the supervision of a pharmacist and who may not need to be physically present at the premises.
3. Require a responsible pharmacist to be in charge of the premises (s/he may be absent for up to two hours) but does not require the supervision of a pharmacist.
4. Do not require a responsible pharmacist to be in charge of the premises but does require the pharmacy support staff undertaking the activity to be appropriately trained and for the activity to be done under standard operating procedures. 

The guidance does not provide an exhaustive list of activities that a pharmacy may undertake and the PRPSGB says: ”There is no substitute for reference to the law itself as to what the law says or how it applies in particular circumstances. However, the RPSGB hopes that this guidance will assist the profession in its final preparatory work and in the first weeks following the 1 October 2009”.
 
In preparing this guidance the Society and Department of Health have found it necessary to refer to case law, particularly that relating to supervision. As a result of the discussions between the Society, the Department of Health and other UK health departments it has been agreed that further work will be undertaken to review and if necessary clarify the Responsible Pharmacist Regulations. Other changes in practice, for example the electronic transfer of prescriptions, might necessitate a review of the guidance, as a result of NHS requirements.

Links to RP resources

The Responsible Pharmacist legislation can be viewed at the Office of Public Sector Information website

Guidance on the legislation can be viewed at the Department of Health website

For background information, the responses to the Responsible Pharmacist consultation can be seen here

The RPSGB’s professional standards and guidance for responsible pharmacists, including those in the hospital sector, can be viewed here

The NPA website