Consultation seeks views on skill mix in pharmacy
A consultation document on making better use of a range of skills in pharmacy was launched this week by health minister Rosie Winterton.
“We need to look at a more flexible approach in how services are
delivered, allowing pharmacists to make full use of their expertise in
medicines
with the support of all staff working in pharmacies,” Ms Winterton
said.
In essence, “Making the best use of the pharmacy workforce”,
looks at two issues: personal control and supervision in pharmacy. The
principles underpinning the document have been agreed across the UK,
but separate consultations on the details will follow in Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland.
The document begins by stating that the pharmacist should retain overall
responsibility for ensuring that proper procedures are in place in each
pharmacy for both dispensing and sales of medicines.
However, it suggests that a fresh look should be taken at personal control. “To
support the pharmacist in offering professional services off pharmacy
premises, the law will make clear that the responsible pharmacist does
not have to be physically present in the pharmacy at all times,” it
states. Rather than making specific proposals on how this should happen,
it lists some issues on which it would like views. These include restricting
the circumstances in which pharmacists may be away from the pharmacy,
setting time limits on a pharmacist’s absence from the pharmacy,
and requiring the pharmacist to be at the premises at certain hours of
opening. Another issue is whether a pharmacist can be responsible for
more than one pharmacy at any one time. It also discusses changes to
supervision requirements (see Panel).
Options for supervision requirements
The document outlines a number of options for relaxing the current
supervision requirements relating to the sale and supply of pharmacy
and prescription-only medicines. One possibility is that a registered
and suitably qualified pharmacy technician could supervise medicines
sales and supply under a standard operating procedure approved
by the pharmacist responsible for the pharmacy. Another option
is for other registered and suitably accredited pharmacy staff,
including technicians, nurses or NHS-accredited health care assistants,
to take over supervision. The document suggests that this might
offer greater potential for flexible use of staff, such as a nurse
and pharmacist providing a range of services from the pharmacy.
A further option is to introduce remote supervision using new IT,
something that is supported by the document. “The pharmacist
does not need to be always physically present to exercise his/her
responsibility for the safe conduct of business. Changes in the
supervision requirements will support remote supervision by the
pharmacist,” it states. However, remote supervision by a
non-pharmacist will not be allowed. |
The National Pharmaceutical Association
stated that, when considering skill mix, a
balance has to be struck between enabling pharmacists to get involved
in cognitive aspects of the job while preserving safety assurances and
the value of the availability of a pharmacist at all times on the pharmacy
premises.
David Pruce, director of practice and quality improvement at the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “Pharmacists already make a
significant contribution to improving health and preventing illness.
As part of its commitment to lead and support the development of the
pharmacy profession, the Society has an ongoing programme of work to
look at how pharmacy staff expertise can be best utilised.”
He added that a Pharmacy Practice Research Trust’s report into
skill mix is expected early next year.
The document concludes by listing a
series of questions on which it is seeking
responses. Comments should be submitted by 11 March 2005. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader