The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7411 p144
29 July 2006

Alterations to the Byelaws: independent prescribing

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Section XXVIII of the Byelaws of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, that the Council of the Society has approved proposals to alter Sections I, II and XXI of, and the Third and Fourth Schedules to, those Byelaws as set out below.

Notice is further given that the Society intends to make such alterations after the expiry of 60 days from the date of this notice, subject to such amendments as the Lords of the Privy Council may require.

SECTION I: PRELIMINARY
In paragraph 2, before the definition of “the Council”, there shall be inserted:

“‘Accredited course’ means a course that has been accredited by the Council, and which qualifies a pharmacist to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an Independent or Supplementary Prescriber.”

In paragraph 2, after the definition of “The Council” there shall be inserted:

“‘Independent Prescriber’ means a registered pharmacist who holds a Certificate in Independent Prescribing from a course approved by the Council and who has the annotation ‘ip’ against his name in the Register signifying that he is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an Independent Prescriber or Supplementary Prescriber.”

In paragraph 2, the definition of “Supplementary Prescriber” shall be deleted and replaced with:

“‘Supplementary Prescriber’ means a registered pharmacist who holds a Certificate in Supplementary Prescribing from a course approved by the Council and who has the annotation ‘sp’ against his name in the Register signifying that he is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a Supplementary Prescriber”.

SECTION II: MEMBERS
Paragraph 4 to 6 shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

“Fees and procedure for annotations to the Register in respect of Supplementary and Independent Prescribers

4. Any pharmacist wishing to have his entry in the Register annotated to signify his status as a Supplementary Prescriber or an Independent Prescriber shall—
(a) apply in writing to the Registrar;
(b) pay the initial application fee as set out in the Fourth Schedule to these Byelaws, such fee to be non-refundable; and
(c) submit with his application, a certificate (or such other evidence as may be required by the Registrar) showing that he has successfully completed an accredited course.

5. Upon —
(a) receipt of the application fee set out in the Fourth Schedule to these Byelaws; and
(b) being satisfied of the matters set out in paragraph 4(c),
the Registrar shall annotate the Register to signify that the pharmacist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a Supplementary Prescriber, or as an Independent Prescriber, in accordance with Section XXI (5) of these Byelaws.

6. Any person wishing to retain an annotation to his entry in the Register to signify his status as a Supplementary or Independent Prescriber shall—
(a) pay the fee for retention of annotations as set out in the Fourth Schedule to these Byelaws; and
(b) produce evidence to satisfy the Registrar that he remains qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a Supplementary Prescriber, or as an Independent Prescriber.”

SECTION XX1
Paragraph 1 shall be deleted and replaced as follows:

“1. The Registrar shall maintain the Register in the format set out in the Third Schedule to these Byelaws.”

THIRD SCHEDULE
The Third Schedule shall be deleted and replaced as follows:

“THIRD SCHEDULE: THE ANNUAL REGISTER OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTS

The letters in the last margin to the right indicate the status of the member as follows:

F indicates that the member is a Fellow of the Society
P indicates that the member is a practising pharmacist*
NP indicates that the member is a non-practising pharmacist*
sp indicates that the member is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as a Supplementary Prescriber
ip indicates that a pharmacist is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an Independent Prescriber or a Supplementary Prescriber

* a practising pharmacist is a member who undertakes any work in, or gives advice in relation to, the science of medicines or the practice of pharmacy or health care

* a non-practising pharmacist is a member who does not engage in pharmacy practice, is not involved in patient care and does not work in or give advice in relation to, the science of medicines or the practice of pharmacy or health care.”

FOURTH SCHEDULE: FEES PAYABLE TO THE SOCIETY
Paragraph 6 shall be deleted and replaced as follows:

“Fees for annotations to entries in the Register to signify status as a Supplementary Prescriber or as an Independent Prescriber
6(a) The initial application fee to annotate the Register shall be—
(i) £35.00 in respect of Supplementary Prescribers, and
(ii) £35.00 in respect of Independent Prescribers;
(b) The annual fee for retaining an annotation to the Register shall be—
(i) £35.00 in respect of Supplementary Prescribers, and
(ii) £35.00 in respect of Independent Prescribers.

Ann Lewis
Secretary and Registrar

Note: The effect of the Byelaw amendment is to allow pharmacists who become independent prescribers to have that qualification recognised by an annotation to the annual Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists.