Welsh pharmacists learn about Society's plans for regulation of dispensing/pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians
Pharmacists in Wales had the chance last week to question staff from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's headquarters about the Society's plans for the regulation of pharmacy support staff. About 60 pharmacists
from community and hospital practice attended a meeting on Tuesday 20
January, which was organised by the Society’s Welsh Executive and
held at the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff.
The meeting was addressed by Janet Flint, the Society’s head of
support staff regulation, and Sadia Khan, the Society’s practice
pharmacist. They gave an outline of the minimum competence requirements
that will come into force on 1 January 2005 for dispensing/pharmacy assistants,
explaining how the recently announced “grandparent clause” (PJ,
17 January, centre pull-out (PDF 100K))
would exempt existing staff with relevant work experience from having
to undertake a new training course — provided
their supervising pharmacists took the necessary steps. They also gave
details of the Society’s proposals for the regulation of pharmacy
technicians.
The chairman of the Society’s Welsh Executive, Andrea Robinson,
said: “The audience found the presentation helpful in interpreting
the new requirements and fulfilling their role as a supervising pharmacist
when assessing the competencies of their existing staff. Pharmacists
in Wales and their staff are also well supported by the Welsh Centre
for Post-Graduate Pharmaceutical Education. In addition to providing
training and support material WCCPE also has a useful website with answers to frequently asked questions.”
Janet Flint said: “This was good opportunity to talk to pharmacists
in Wales about the forthcoming changes and to answer any queries or concerns.
Patient safety is of the highest concern and there is a need to assure
patients that the staff who care for them are trained to the required
level and are competent in their role. There will be a similar presentation
for pharmacists in Scotland in the near future.”
Ms Flint and other headquarters staff have already spoken to a number
of local meetings over the past few months about support staff regulation.
Any local groups of pharmacists and/or support staff who would like a
presentation on the Society’s plans should contact Ms Flint at
the Society’s headquarters, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN
(tel 020 7572 2410, e-mail janet.flint@rpsgb.org).
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