The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7394 p377
1 April 2006

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News summary

Society concerned over planned NHS regulations

Opposition to planned NHS pharmaceutical services regulations for England has been expressed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (PDF 70K). The proposed regulations, which will come into force on 1 May, will give primary care trusts in England power to investigate the fitness to practise of pharmacists and bar them from working in the NHS even though they may retain registration with the Society.

In particular, the Society is concerned that the regulations introduce duplicate fitness-to-practise processes that impinge on the Society’s statutory role as registration body, regulator and enforcement authority.

“The Society still has concerns about the unnecessary duplication of running two parallel fitness-to-practise processes alongside each other,” the Society has told the Department of Health. “Duplication is not in the interests of any party and could potentially lead to confusion and delay.”

The Society is also worried that not all pharmacists and future pharmacists might be made aware of a new duty to register with primary care trusts if they are to work in the NHS. Current plans involve telling only pharmacists, locum agencies and schools of pharmacy, but not preregistration trainees.