The National Pharmacy Association comments are as follows:
Q33. Do you agree that the RPSGB should be given reserve powers to register suitably experienced people, and allow additional pharmacists to act as prescribers, during an emergency?
Whilst we accept that the registrar should be able to register very recently retired pharmacists, some non-practising pharmacists and some pre-registration trainees nearing the end of their training on the practising register, we do not agree that the registrar should have the power to register other groups as pharmacists. Patient safety remains paramount, and when a member of the public consults a pharmacist they must have the confidence that this person has completed all the requirements for qualification as a pharmacist, and has up-to-date knowledge. Allowing non-pharmacists to register and use the restricted title of pharmacist could damage long-term patient confidence in the profession. It is equally important to differentiate between those former pharmacists who are recently retired and still have recent experience of pharmacy, and those who have been retired longer and who may lack experience of current practice.
We would, however, support the relaxation of certain regulations during an emergency to allow, for example, pre-registration trainees or registered pharmacy technicians to take on some of the powers of a pharmacist. For example, it may be appropriate for lower-risk prescriptions (eg, for patients on established medication where there have been no changes in dose or concurrent medication) to be dispensed by a pre-registration trainee or registered pharmacy technician without any input from a pharmacist.
We support the proposal to allow persons or categories of persons on the practising register of pharmacists to be temporarily allowed to order drugs, medicines and appliances. Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are generally risk averse, and we therefore believe that this additional power would be used appropriately by pharmacists called upon to prescribe during an emergency.
