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Letters to the Editor
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Certificates
Reply from Jeremy
Holmes, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society
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Certificate of registration should be that of the pharmacist on duty
From R. I. Dunkley, MRPharmS
When I go into a pharmacy as a patient, why is the certificate of registration
displayed not always that of the pharmacist on duty? I always make a
point of looking at the certificates on display — the pharmacist
might be someone I know and I might like to say hello. The public have
a right to know who is in charge of the pharmacy should they have a cause
to complain. Because, do not forget, that we are in charge of that pharmacy — it
is our watch.
I make it a point of honour to take my certificate everywhere I go. I
even go back to my pharmacy after-hours to retrieve my certificate in
order to take it to my next shop to display it to the public, so that
they know that Robert Ian Dunkley is in charge and any mistakes can be
laid at my door.
Why can other pharmacists not do this?
Bob Dunkley
Leeds
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JEREMY HOLMES, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, responds:
Under Sections 70 and 71 of the Medicines Act 1968,
a pharmacist in personal control of a pharmacy must have his or her
name and registration certificate conspicuously exhibited. During
the course of visits, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society inspectors make
checks
and provide advice to ensure that these provisions of the Medicines
Act 1968 are complied with.
As Mr Dunkley correctly states, it is
important that the public can identify who the pharmacist in personal
control
is, although in rare cases there may be other pharmacists working
in the same location at the same time.
Once the requirements for the “responsible pharmacist” come into
force under the Health Act 2006, pharmacists will no longer be required to display
their registration certificates, although it is likely that the fundamental principle
of ensuring that the public are informed of the identity of the responsible pharmacist
will remain. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal