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Letters to the Editor
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Registration
Prohibited from giving advice
From Mr J. B. Ewart, FRPharmS
I am currently completing my application for registering as a non-practising
pharmacist and note that a declaration must be made that “I will
not give any advice in relation to the dispensing or use of medicines
… the practice of pharmacy or the provision of health care”.
My local doctors recently asked me if I would serve on a patient forum
to discuss possible ways of improving their practice. I accepted their
offer but find the above advice restrictions made by the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society place me in a somewhat dubious situation.
Why am I being prohibited
from giving advice on such matters as the low standards of medicine
compliance in many care homes for the elderly, or the advantages of patients
taking
part in medicines use reviews and so on?
It appears that because of these restrictions it would be improper
for me to be serving on this forum. I can imagine the reactions of
its members
when I explain the reasons for my withdrawal. James Bisset Ewart
Norwich, Norfolk
Restrictions for a non-practising pharmacist
From a pharmacist
I have a diabetic wife who has Alzheimer’s disease. I ceased practising
on the 1 January 2007. I am now in a quandary. To register as a non-practising
pharmacist I have to declare that I will not undertake any advice in
the use of medicines.
So presumably I cannot tell my wife, who is unable
to tell me what day it is, the amount of insulin that she can inject.
What great stupidity
Is there any way out of this problem, other than to resign from the
Royal Pharmaceutical Society? I would like an answer, because I would
love
to remain a member of the Society that has been in my life since 1952. Name and address withheld
298/4
Blanket prohibition for the non-practising
From Mrs A. Farrelly, MRPharmS
Debating whether to retire from the Register or transfer to the non-practising
Register, I wondered if anyone has been reprimanded for giving advice
in relation to “the provision of health care”.
This blanket prohibition appears to prevent me advising my daughter on the
health of my grandchildren. Can we be certain that common sense will be applied?
A. Farrelly
Wallington, Surrey
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ANDREW GARDNER, head of registration at the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, responds:
Although the Register of pharmacists has been separated
into practising and non-practising categories since 2005, there remains
an element of confusion around the non-practising status that I hope
we can dispel.
The Society first issued guidance
on the practising and non-practising status in 2005, and the
sections on “Myths and
misconceptions” and “Exercising professional judgement” remain
relevant and answer the particular issues raised.
Non-practising members and registrants should exercise their professional
judgement and be clear about the reasons for providing advice before
giving it to their families or friends on health care and the use
of medicines.
There is no automatic bar, for example, to a non-practising pharmacist
participating on a patient forum, provided that he or she has not
been invited to participate on the basis of being a registered pharmacist
and, in participating, that he or she does not “hold himself out as a
pharmacist or pharmacy technician”.
“Practice” is defined in Article 3(2) of the Order as
follows: “A
person practises as a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician if, whilst acting
in the capacity of or holding himself out as a pharmacist or a pharmacy
technician, he undertakes any work or gives any advice in relation to
the dispensing or use of medicines, the science of medicines, the practice
of pharmacy or the provision of health care”.
The fact that the phrase in article 3(2) “… whilst acting in
the capacity of or holding himself out as a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician
…” applies, but does not appear within the text of 1(b) of the
declaration on the application form, may help to clarify the situation.
Steps will be taken to amend the applications for retention in 2009. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal