Dispensing doctors want one register for all dispensing staff
There should be one register that covers all dispensing staff, no matter
where they work, the Dispensing Doctors’ Association suggests
in its response to the Foster review of non-medical regulation.
The DDA is concerned that multiple registers are being developed and
believes that any register should reflect the qualifications, experience
and skills of the health care professionals and not the location in which
they work. The DDA has maintained its own voluntary register of dispensing
staff for some time. Chairman of the DDA, Richard West, says: “We
believe our register upholds the best professional standards and would
like to see it receive official validation.”
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has held a voluntary register of pharmacy
technicians since January 2005. Janet Flint, the Society’s head
of support staff regulation, told The Journal that when the register
was first set up the DDA approached the Society to ask whether dispensing
staff in dispensing doctor practices could be included. It was decided
that applicants with a recognised qualification who do not meet the Society’s
work experience criteria (of working a specified number of hours under
the supervision of a pharmacist) may apply for registration but that
their application would be subject to scrutiny and evaluation to ensure
that they are working in the role of a pharmacy technician and are complying
with the code of ethics for pharmacy technicians.
This month, the Society’s Council clarified this by agreeing that
these applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken
a minimum amount of work experience under the supervision, direction
or guidance of a pharmacist of not less than 14 hours per week over a
two-year period, either during the training period or post-qualification. |
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