Responsible Pharmacist impact research

 

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Professional Forum of the Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland (PSNI) commissioned research into the impact of the Responsible Pharmacist regulations on pharmacy practice, to help inform future decisions earlier this year.

Both organisations strongly believed that it was the right time to gather evidence and take stock of the impact of the responsible pharmacist regulations on pharmacy practice. The findings will help support the Professional Forum’s response to the future consultation on supervision. The RPS and PSNI research will be used to identify whether further change to pharmacy practice is warranted to optimise the safe and effective pharmaceutical care.

The research findings and recommendations have now been published please click here to view. 

In addition view the Northern Ireland Country Report – a short summary report of the key findings from the study with the results for Northern Ireland shown against those for the UK as a whole to be read in conjunction with the main report.

 

The Professional Forum are in broad agreement with the initial response from the RPS but will make a fuller statement in the New Year when they have completed discussions with local stakeholders in Northern Ireland.

http://www.rpharms.com/promoting-pharmacy-pdfs/rps-response-to-rp-research.pdf

Read what people are saying about the research

Anne McAlister, Chair of the Professional Forum of the PSNI
“The recent and planned changes to the law around personal control and supervision respectively will require guidance on best practice, which the professional bodies, the RPS, Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) and PSNI Professional Forum are well placed to offer, signposting existing models and developing the expert guidance for implementation. An evidence based approach is the best way to support individual practitioners in developing the skills and confidence to take on new responsibilities for the care and health of patients and the public.”

 

Martin Astbury, RPS President
“Public confidence in pharmacy is an invaluable asset which is linked to the strength of both the profession and the services we currently offer.  As pharmacists take on ever more clinical roles, including advising people to improve their health, and technological advances offer new models of working, it is vital that the interests of patients and the public remain foremost in our minds. Robust research is required to ensure that future proposals for changes to pharmacy practice, its regulation and the associated support and guidance are developed, based on best evidence. I have heard loud and clear what you have told me about responsible pharmacists and I give my personal assurance that we will act on the evidence we have found.”


Helen Gordon, RPS Chief Executive
“The acid test for any legislative change is whether it changes the reality of practice – and if it does, that the changes are for the better. We have made a considerable investment in conducting this research, to get a good grasp of the current situation, the difficulties, the challenges and the opportunities. The research has created a new evidence base for the Society to consider and to inform any future changes required.  The research methodology is robust, reliable and by outsourcing to TNS – BRMB, truly independent. These facts give the results tremendous weight.”