The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published a guide to help pharmacy teams make informed decisions while dealing with difficult situations linked to COVID-19.
The guidance – developed by a diverse group of professionals, including regulators, academics and pharmacy law experts – is meant for pharmacy professionals in all settings, who are involved in strategic planning or front-line roles.
According to the RPS, it “provides helpful reminders about the process of reasoned decision making, the national pandemic ethical framework and some considerations about specific areas of importance to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
“The varied experiences of the guidance contributors brings together a wide range of up to the moment professional issues that many may or will be facing.”
The pharmacy body reassures pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that “should decisions be called into question at a later date, they will be judged according to the circumstances at the time of the decision, not with the benefit of hindsight.”
RPS President Sandra Gidley said: “This guidance will help pharmacy professionals to take responsibility for making difficult but informed decisions. It provides reassurance that those decisions are the right thing to do given the pandemic situation.”
Chair of the guidance working group, Dr Matthew Boyd from the University of Nottingham and Pharmacy Law and Ethics Association, said: “The willingness of so many senior members of our professional family to volunteer to contribute to this document, and at speed, summarises the drive and compassion amongst our number for high standards of patient care.
“The guidance has had comment from all sectors of the pharmacy team to provide maximum coverage. Appropriately applied, the frameworks should support all required decisions during the pandemic.”
The RPS guidance has the support of General Pharmaceutical Council, the Pharmaceutical Society NI and the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK.
