One step at a time
Less than two months ago, The Journal commented on the forthcoming relaxation of the legislation covering personal supervision in the Health Bill currently going through Parliament, saying that the strict need for a pharmacist always to be on the pharmacy premises was “ending
with a whimper” (5 November, p562).
We seem to have spoken too soon because, both during the second reading
of the Health Bill at the beginning of this month and at the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society’s Council meeting last week, some disquiet was raised about
the intended changes.
It must be hoped that a sensible solution is found through the legislation,
and that regulations will allay any fears without restricting the activities
of pharmacists eager to take up the opportunities offered by the new
community pharmacy contracts.
The first steps have already been taken by the Society in recognising
that supervision will have to be redefined following requests from members
asking how pharmacy sales can be made and drugs can be dispensed while
a pharmacist conducts a medicines use review (p756). Although, technically,
undertaking an MUR does not involve the pharmacist leaving the premises,
in practice the pharmacist will be unavailable for consultation by staff.
So, the Council has sensibly decided that provided strict standard operating
procedures are in place for pharmacy staff to follow, they may sell over-the-counter
medicines and hand out dispensed medicines, while pharmacists undertake
MURs with a clear conscience. That is as it should be.
Those who wish to restrict physical absence, perhaps because they are
not comfortable with new ways of working, should recognise that no pharmacist
is ever going to be forced to leave his or her premises against their
wishes. And for the good of the future development of the profession
they must accept that decisions on how pharmacy is practised should be
left to individual pharmacists and not enshrined in restrictive regulations.
It seems to The Journal that the community sector has a great deal to
learn from hospital practice. Hospital pharmacy departments work effectively
and safely — and have done for years — under the management
of technicians working to SOPs. There is no reason why community pharmacies
cannot do so as well.
Moreover, in future, market forces may dictate whether or not a pharmacist
is able to be absent from his or her retail premises — patients
and customers will soon go elsewhere if they do not like the services
on offer.
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