Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group members meet to discuss ‘future model of pharmacy practice’

The Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group held its second meeting to discuss the future modelling of pharmacy practice.

Some of the leading bodies from the community pharmacy sector have joined the group. The members explored themes centred around accountability, delegation and responsibility.

The session included a wide-reaching discussion, including what future guidance might look like and the continued patient access to the pharmacist through a comprehensive, accessible and equitable community pharmacy offer.

Chair of the group, Dr Michael Twigg, Associate Professor of Primary Care Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, said: “The primary objective of the group is to develop a co-designed and co-produced solution that will not only enhance the patient experience within community pharmacy practice, but that will enable the community pharmacy workforce to maximise role and professional skills.

“At its second meeting, the group was unanimous that any changes in the delegation, responsibility and accountability space should be in the patient interest, distil confidence for patients and ensure that community pharmacy remains accessible and equitable.”

The group has initiated work in response to much discussion relating to current legislation and case law surrounding supervision of community pharmacy practice and the intention of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and Health Departments in the Devolved Governments, to reform current legislation later on this year. It will meet again on 2^nd March, where these themes will be explored in more detail.

The group is made up of the following members - the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp); Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK); Company Chemists’ Association (CCA); National Pharmacy Association (NPA); Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA); Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland (PFNI); and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Observers on the group are General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI_.