Pharmacists and technicians must work together closely
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will have to be prepared to work together closely, according to Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer for England.
In particular, they will need to ensure they are in a position to contend
with difficult issues such as skill mix and drivers for reform. Playing
their part in addressing deficiencies in patients’ experiences
of health services, such as a lack of clear and comprehensible information
about the side effects of medicines, will also be important.
Dr Ridge’s comments were made at what was effectively his inaugural
speech at the Association of Pharmacy
Technicians conference held on
6–9 April in Maidstone, Kent.
Turning to the draft Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2006,
Dr Ridge explained that this was the biggest change to the pharmacy profession
in over 50 years. He highlighted registration of pharmacy technicians
in England and Wales, updated provisions for education and training,
and improved capacity to address fitness to practise issues as being
some of the key points. Also important is the requirement for the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society to lay its annual accounts before each of the
houses of Parliament. Ensuring transparency is “particularly important
where a regulator also has professional leadership function”, Dr
Ridge added.
Commenting on the proposal not to include the registration of technicians
working in Scotland in the draft Order, Dr Ridge said “it’s
a pity” but suggested that there is a logic to this outcome given
that pharmacy technicians are part of a new profession since their register
was created after devolution. |
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