The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7200 p781-786
1 June 2002

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Branch Representatives' meeting summary

Urgent need for standards for technician registration

A motion calling on the Society urgently to establish standards for registration of technicians was carried. The motion added that the standards should reflect the requirements of employers, allow for additional specialist skills and meet the needs of the different British health care systems.

Proposing the motion, DAVID THOMSON (Glasgow and West of Scotland) said that delivering the Scottish Executive document on pharmaceutical care, "The right medicine", would depend on a skill mix balance within pharmacies that placed technicians as key players. But there was confusion among pharmacists and technicians as to the technician's role. Unless there was clarity on how technicians would move forward, then it might not be possible to deliver the expectations contained in the document.

Dr JULIENNE JOHNSON (Glasgow and West of Scotland), seconding, said that it was not about threatening the role of pharmacists. It was about defining what a technician was, compliance with clinical governance in the future and the potential regulation of technicians. There was also a need to avoid potential conflict with any body that might be set up to regulate technicians under a separate umbrella.

Asked for clarification by NICK WOOD (Chelmsford), Dr JOHNSON confirmed that the intention of the motion was that the Society itself should undertake the registration of technicians.

Mr WOOD said that his branch could not support the motion if the intention was for the Society to register technicians. He was sorry the motion lacked clarity.