The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7245 p558
19 April 2003

An occasional feature, prepared in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate, to highlight problems and inquiries currently being handled

Law and Ethics Bulletin, 2001 to present

Checking pharmacists' credentials

Pharmacists are reminded that when employing other pharmacists, either as locums or as permanent employees, it is essential they make suitable checks to confirm their registration status. When employing a pharmacist through an agency, checks should be made as to whether the agency has verified the pharmacist's bone fides. If not, employers must make their own checks.

In addition, references should also be taken up for prospective employee pharmacists because registration status checks alone will not guarantee that a pharmacist will be a satisfactory employee.

Checks on a pharmacist's registration status can be made without charge through the "About the Society" section of the Society's website. Alternatively, checks can be made by writing to the Society's registration department giving details of the person to be checked.

The letter should include a cheque made payable to "RPSGB" to cover search charges.

Charges are £25 for the first search and £10 per member search for subsequent searches, up to a maximum of 25 searches per letter.