Last week, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) revealed that pharmacists – when “absent or treated as absent” – will be able to “authorise” pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff to hand out “checked and bagged prescriptions” from January 7.
But the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has since called for a “mandated requirement” that all pharmacy owners “must have robust procedures in place” before implementing the “absent-authorisation provision” next month.
It said this week (December 17) that this would ensure patients and pharmacists – both employed and self-employed – “are protected”.
Read more: Supervision: Authorisation reform launch dates revealed
“Without these robust procedures, no pharmacy owner should implement these changes, as doing so may compromise patient safety and expose pharmacists to unnecessary risks and liability,” the PDA stressed.
And it added that regulators and commissioners “should make sure that the presence and effectiveness of these procedures are a condition of operation and contract compliance for any contractor seeking to use the absent‑authorisation flexibilities”.
Modernise
The PDA also acknowledged the new supervision legislation “marks a significant step which attempts to modernise pharmacy”.
“The PDA recognises and supports the principal intention behind these changes,” it said, noting that it means pharmacy technicians can “use their skills to enhance workflow, safety and efficiency of the assembly and supply process”.
But it added that while the PDA “supports modernisation”, it “emphasises that role clarity and professional identity are non-negotiable”.
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It stressed that as the supervision framework “evolves”, it will “continue to advocate” for pharmacists to “remain the clinical decision‑makers for patient‑facing care in all community pharmacy settings”.
And pharmacy technicians must “operate within well‑defined, supportive boundaries of practice, with the levels of their training being reflective of the scope of their work”, it added.
The PDA also called for the “single set of standards” that is currently relied on by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to be “replaced by two separate and distinct sets of standards”.
Read more: ‘Many’ pharmacists against supervision reforms, DH admits
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland chief executive Canice Ward said that this legislation is “an important step in supporting safe and timely access to medicines for patients in Northern Ireland”.
“We will work closely with the Pharmacy Forum NI to provide guidance and practical support to ensure this change is implemented safely and effectively,” she added.
