The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has today launched a consultation on a new Code of Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland (the Code) to replace its previous 2016 Code.
We are inviting comments…
As we celebrate Pharmacist Technician Day today, we once again acknowledge the indispensable role that Pharmacy Technicians play in the provision of pharmacy services in Northern Ireland.
Michaela McAleer, the Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI commented:
“Pharmacy Technicians, as…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved the Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2022-23, on 19 September 2023. This Report was laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 05 October…
The Covid-19 Temporary Register, opened in April 2020 under the Coronavirus Act 2020. This enabled the Pharmaceutical Society NI to temporarily register persons, in good standing, who had withdrawn from the register within the last three years. The purpose…
The theme of this year’s International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacists Day 2023 is ‘Pharmacy strengthening health systems.
Reflecting on this year’s World Pharmacists Day theme, Dr. Geraldine O’Hare, President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, commented:
“This year’s theme…
In acknowledgement of the World Patient Safety Day 2023 theme of ‘Engaging Patients for Patient Safety’, Michaela McAleer, the Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI commented:
“We welcome the World Health Organisation’s message on World Patient Safety Day 2023…
In light of recent events in England, we are conducting an internal review of the Code provisions and Guidance that relate to raising concerns, the protection of whistle-blowers and the duty of candour by pharmacists with a view to…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2022-23. Removal is effective…
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2023-24. Removal was effective from 10 August 2023 and is…
The results of the UK-wide Common Registration Assessment for pharmacists, held jointly by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in June 2023, have been published.
A total of 2,805 candidates sat the assessment in the…
Opens 26 July 2023 and closes 26 September 2023
The Council of Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched an 8-week public consultation on proposed Regulations and the associated Guidance in respect of the Knowledge of English for pharmacists.
The Chief Executives of five Statutory Regulators of Health and Social Care Professionals have issued the following joint statement on meeting regulatory standards during periods of global or national shortage of medicines.
Joint Statement
We are concerned to hear that people…
Today, 05 July 2023, the National Health Service will mark the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1946. 75 years ago, the key aim of the new NHS was to provide all with healthcare, free at the point of…
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its Performance Review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI as part of its annual review of the ten statutory health and social care regulators across the UK. The Performance Review assesses whether each…
8 February 2023
The Pharmaceutical Society NI welcomes the report published by the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership which highlights the importance of effective professional pharmacy leadership in the development of the pharmacy profession into the future and…
The annual registration fee is considered each year by the Pharmaceutical Society NI’s Council. At its meeting in November 2022, Council members in recognition of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal and professional impact of the cost…
As part of its continuing communication and engagement program, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has opened a new organisational LinkedIn page at:
www.linkedin.com/company/pharmaceutical-society-of-northern-ireland/
We look forward to you visiting us.
23/01/23
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2021-22. Removal is effective…
Applications to join the Foundation Training Year 2023/24 will begin on 03 January 2023. The purpose of this communication is to provide an outline of the application process and make you aware of the information you will need to…
The UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers and the Chief Executives of the GPhC and Pharmaceutical Society NI have issued a Joint Communication to thank pharmacy teams for continuing to provide vital health services and person-centred care to patients and the…
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Geraldine O’Hare, has published a holiday message to pharmacists and members of the pharmacy team in Northern Ireland.
“Since my appointment as President of the Council of Pharmaceutical Society NI in November…
6 December 2022
A total of 937 candidates sat the registration assessment in four countries on 3 November, with 525 candidates passing the assessment: an overall pass rate of 56%.
The results of the common registration assessment for pharmacists, held jointly…
New legislation, the Pharmacy (Responsible Pharmacists, Superintendent Pharmacist etc.) Order 2022 which relates to the responsibilities of Responsible and Superintendent Pharmacists, came into effect on the 1 December 2022. The legislation also gives additional powers to the Council…
The Pharmacy (Preparation and Dispensing Errors – Hospital and Other Pharmacy Services) Order 2022, came into effect on 1st December 2022.
This legislation removes the threat of criminal sanctions for inadvertent dispensing errors in hospitals and other pharmacy settings…
The Call for Evidence on the review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland) 2016, has been extended to the 16 January 2023. This is to enable all those who wish to…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI, the Regulator of Pharmacists in Northern Ireland has made the following statement in relation to the potential of industrial action involving pharmacists.
We are aware of the potential of industrial action by many healthcare professionals in…
Today, the Registrar, Ms Laura Hughes, outlined the Registration process for those Trainees successfully passing the November Common Registration Assessment and who have completed their Foundation Training Year. Details of the process and timelines can be found here
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Indemnity Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022, come into effect today (21st November 2022).
These regulations revoke and replace the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Indemnity Arrangements) Regulations…
Following the announcement of the retirement of the current Chief Executive, Mr Trevor Patterson, The Pharmaceutical Society NI is delighted to announce the appointment of his replacement, Ms Michaela McAleer
Ms McAleer will take up her appointment on 5th December…
After 15 years at the helm, Mr Trevor Patterson Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has announced his intention to retire.
Jonathan Patton, Vice President of the Society said, “Joining the Society from the construction sector Trevor brought fresh…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has begun a review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland) 2016 which all pharmacists in Northern Ireland are expected to abide and…
We have published a statement on the issue of temporary closures of community pharmacies.
We recognise that access to pharmacy services is an issue of utmost importance to patients, carers and their families.
Pharmacy closures can be distressing for all involved,…
25 October 2022
New legislative orders will give the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) powers to set professional standards for Responsible Pharmacists, Superintendent Pharmacists and Chief Pharmacists.
The Pharmacy (Preparation and Dispensing Errors – Hospital…
Today we mark Pharmacy Technician Day and wish to acknowledge the significant contribution Pharmacy Technicians and support staff make, as an integral part of the pharmacy team, to patient wellbeing and care in Northern Ireland.
The Chief Executive Officer of…
The Council of Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched an 8-week public consultation on proposed Guidance on Pharmacy Staffing Levels within registered premises. The public consultation follows proposals made to the Council in September 2022 based on engagement with stakeholders.
This…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved the Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2021-22, on Thursday 15 September 2022. This Report was laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 4…
Dr. Jim Livingstone’s tenure as the President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has come to an end, after leading Council for a period of 8 years. Dr. Jim Livingstone was first appointed by the Minister for…
The Health Minister, Robin Swann, has announced the appointment of Dr. Geraldine O’Hare as President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Geraldine is a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist, Associate Fellow, and a Chartered Scientist with…
At the start of the pandemic in 2020, the UK Government introduced emergency legislation which allowed Pharmacists in Northern Ireland to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic by joining our Covid-19 Temporary Register. Following a request from the…
Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world
The theme of this year’s International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacists’ Day, on 25 September 2022 is, ‘Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world’.
In acknowledgement of World Pharmacists’ Day, Dr. Jim Livingstone,…
Medication Safety- Medication Without Harm
In acknowledgement of the World Patient Safety Day 2022 theme of ‘Medication Safety – Medication Without Harm’, Jonathan Patton, Vice President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, has made the following statement:
“The 2020…
A message from the President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“The sad death of Queen Elizabeth II has come as a shock to everyone, both here and around…
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2022-23. Removal was effective from 16 August 2022 and is…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2021-22. Removal is effective…
Based on consideration of responses to its recent public consultation, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has approved, in principle, to work towards a change to its Regulations to remove the requirement that a pharmacist is only entitled…
The results of the UK-wide Common Registration Assessment for pharmacists, held jointly by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in June 2022, have been published.
A total of 2,697 candidates sat the registration assessment in…
The results of the June 2022 Common Registration Assessment, held jointly by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), have been published.
Pharmaceutical Society NI Chief Executive, Trevor Patterson said:
“We congratulate all those candidates who have…
The process and timelines for Foundation Training Year (FTY) trainees to register as a pharmacist in Northern Ireland upon the successful completion of the Common Registration Assessment (CRA) has…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI’s online application process for the Summer 2022 Common Registration Assessment on Wednesday 29 June 2022, is now open. Applications to sit the assessment will close on 29 April 2022.
Further information about the Common Registration Assessment…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has today (4th April 2022) launched an 8-week public consultation on changes to requirements for training as a pharmacist independent prescriber and being annotated as an independent prescriber on the Register of…
The Covid-19 Temporary Register, opened in April 2020 under the Coronavirus Act 2020. This enabled the Pharmaceutical Society NI to temporarily register persons, in good standing, who had withdrawn from the register within the last three years. The purpose…
The Department of Health is seeking to appoint 2 Council Members, ( 1 x Lay, and 1 Registrant – including a President) to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
This is an exceptional opportunity to share your talents and…
Following Saturday’s appalling attack which left Conor McAreavey, a Belfast Pharmacist injured, Doctor Jim Livingstone, the President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Council of Northern Ireland stated:
“Like every member of our community, I am disgusted by this vicious…
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) brought together key stakeholders on 27 January 2022, to discuss establishing a formal group focused on the assurance of post-registration practice of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (in…
Following the release of the results from the autumn common registration assessment for pharmacists, Dr Jim Livingstone President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said:
“I would congratulate all the successful candidates on achieving their results in the Common Registration Assessment….
The results of the first four-country common registration assessment for pharmacists, held jointly by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), have been published. Pharmaceutical Society NI Chief Executive and Interim Registrar, Trevor Patterson said:
“We…
The regulators of UK health and social care professionals have reiterated their support for staff working together to tackle the ongoing pandemic and seasonal pressure on services.
Joint Statement from the Chief Executives of the Statutory Regulators of Health and…
We have now published our Annual Report and Accounts 2020 – 2021. This document was approved by Council on 16 September 2021 and laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 05 October 2021.
You can find a copy of the…
Following a review of the Standards for Foundation Training (version March 2021), the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI in September 2021, approved a clarification of Section 2 of the Standards on the operation of the 8-year time limit…
The theme of this year’s International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacists Day on the 25 September 2021 is ‘Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health’.
In acknowledgement of World Pharmacists Day, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, has made…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI received and noted the June 2021 Registration Assessment report at its meeting on 16 September 2021.
A total of 136 candidates sat the Registration Assessment on 08 June 2021 with 124 candidates passing…
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2021-22. Removal was effective from 12 August 2021 and is…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Interim Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2020-21. Removal is…
On the 1 August 2021, the Minister of Health, Robin Swann, appointed four new council member to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI , Dr Jim Livingstone said, ” it is…
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) has today, the 19 July 2021, published its Performance Review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI for 2019 / 2020 which can be found here.
While the Council of the…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI have, this morning issued notifications of Pre Registration Examination results. However are aware of an issue, particularly in relation to hotmail accounts, in that some emails may have been sent to junk. We have proactively…
Due to a temporary reorganisation to facilitate maternity cover from July 2021 until, nominally, 01 July 2022, we have an exciting opportunity for a pharmacist. The role will be temporary full-time with a hybrid working arrangement ie part home…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has welcomed the publication by the Department of Health and Social Care of the public consultation, Regulating healthcare professionals, protecting the public, describing it as an opportunity for stakeholders to influence the way in which…
The Registrar, Ms Laura Hughes, has informed all registered pharmacists of the CPD requirements for the CPD year 2020/21. Confirming the Council decision, Ms Hughes wrote to all pharmacists on 19 March 2021 as follows;
‘At its meeting on 15 March…
Following the recent announcement by the GPhC, that it will be holding its Registration Assessment in 27, 28 and 29 July 2021, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has confirmed that on this occasion a separate Registration Assessment,…
DOH is seeking to appoint four Council Members to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (one Registrant Member and three Lay Members)
The Department of Health is seeking to appoint four Council Members to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland…
Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, in a 17 February 2021 letter to registrants of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has welcomed a new era for pharmacist education and training following the approval by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has approved the publication of new guidance on the Provision of Services for pharmacists in Northern Ireland. Council considered the responses to its 12-week public consultation at its meeting in January 2021…
4 February 2021
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has approved and adopted the new Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists on the 26 January 2021 as part of the process of the joint reform…
3 February 2021
The Pharmaceutical Society NI welcomes the Pharmacy Workforce Review 2020 published by the Department of Health NI. We look forward to working with the public, the profession, the Department of Health and other stakeholders in the continuing…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has issued a joint letter with the UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers and the GPhC thanking pharmacy colleagues for their ongoing work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to thank all the pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, provisionally-registered pharmacists,…
Cathy Harrison, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, issued a letter on 14 January 2021 to registrants with the Pharmaceutical Society NI asking for pharmacists with any spare capacity to help their professional colleagues in the hospital and community pharmacy sectors.
Cathy…
In March last year, at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we issued a statement to support our registrants in dealing with the un-precedented challenges that they were facing. As the pandemic continues, we know that health and social…
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, has today (23/12/20) released his holiday message to pharmacists in Northern Ireland. “As we approach the end of a challenging year, on behalf…
The following Pharmacist was removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2019-20. Removal is effective from 21 December 2020 (inclusive)…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today, 7 December 2020, sent all pharmacists in Northern Ireland an invitation to take part in the United Kingdom Research Study into Ethnicity and COVID-19 Outcomes in Healthcare Workers (UK-REACH).
UK-REACH is an urgent public…
Recruitment begins for ethnic minority healthcare staff COVID research study
A drive to encourage ethnic minority healthcare workers to participate in a Government-backed study investigating the risks of COVID-19 to their health has been launched today.
The £2.1m University of Leicester-led…
The four Chief Pharmacists from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, along with the Chief Executives of the Pharmaceutical Society NI and the GPhC have issued a joint statement on supporting pharmacists and pharmacy teams throughout the second COVID-19…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI hosted an online meeting on November 12, 2020, to outline and gain feedback on the major reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacists, being taken forward across the United Kingdom by the UK…
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2020-21. Removal was effective from 9 November 2020 and is processed…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2019-20. Removal is effective…
Dr Mark Timoney, former Chief Pharmaceutical Officer in the Department of Health, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday honours list, for Services to Pharmacy. Mr Eamon Mullaney,…
In acknowledgement of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacist Day 2020, the theme of which is “Transforming Global Health”, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, made the following statement:
“On behalf of the Council of the Pharmaceutical…
In 2019 the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI announced that from June 2021 it would hold a registration assessment jointly with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
As part of the governance arrangements for this new approach it was agreed that…
Today, Laura Hughes Registrar has issued a statement regarding the CPD requirements for this year, 2020/21. To see full requirements click here: www.psni.org.uk/publications/covid19-regulatory-statements-and-information/
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the General Pharmaceutical Council have issued a joint statement which gives an update to current MPharm students across the UK about the planned reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacists.
The…
Following the successful completion of the pharmacy registration examination on 11 August 2020, Jim Livingstone, President and Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, have expressed their gratitude for the assistance of the Pharmacy Department and staff…
132 pre-registration pharmacist trainees have passed the registration examination in Northern Ireland, which was held in August 2020. Subject to being signed off by their pre-registration Tutor, the successful trainees will now join the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists and…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is pleased to announce that the Health Minister, Mr Robin Swann MLA, has appointed Mrs Laura Hughes, MPharm, as the organisation’s new Registrar. Laura, who will take up her post on 31 August 2020, brings a wealth of…
The UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers, the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Pharmaceutical Society NI have written a joint letter to provide an update on the major reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacists that are being taken…
Trevor Patterson, CEO and Interim Registrar, has made the following announcement concerning CPD submissions for 2019/20.
Announcement from Trevor Patterson, CEO and Interim Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society NI
In March 2020, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI postponed the…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has today (08 July 2020) launched a 12-week public consultation on draft Guidance on the Provision of Services for pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
The proposed guidance primarily provides help to pharmacists when considering…
Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, has made the following announcement concerning the registration examination, which is scheduled to take place on 11 August 2020.
Announcement from Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical…
At its meeting of 30 June 2020, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved new Threshold Criteria for the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society NI.
Upon completing an investigation into a pharmacist’s fitness to practise, the Registrar must apply…
The CPD portal opened on the morning of 01 July 2020 and will close at midnight on 31 August 2020.
The CPD requirement remains as follows:
Full portfolio: 30 hours (including 5 hours documentation time) – a minimum of 4 cycles.
Partial portfolio,…
Pharmacists and trainees are reminded of the health and wellbeing help and advice available during the current Covid-19 pandemic and beyond is available from the Department of Health Covid-19 app, from the NHS website and offered by…
We are delighted to announce that plans for the Registration Examination have concluded and the examination application process will open next week. We plan to use three venues: two in Belfast and one in Coleraine. Arrangements are in place…
It has been brought to our attention, that a local pharmacist has received a message requesting payment of a NI registration fee, due to being previously undercharged.
This message has not come from the Pharmaceutical Society NI, and bears all…
Brendan Kerr leaves the post of Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society NI on 30th April 2020, after 14 years service to take up a new role with HSCB. The Council and staff wish him well in his new challenge….
On the 26 March the Pharmaceutical Society NI and the GPhC jointly produced a statement on the current pre-registration programmes and the issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic. (see here) At that stage it was recognised that the…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has been reviewing all its activities in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as part of this work we have reviewed the publicised plans for applying to register as a trainee pharmacist in 2020-21.
In light…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has agreed and published a policy document on the use of powers for temporary registration of persons under the Pharmacy (NI) Order 1976, as modified by the Coronavirus Act 2020.
This document can…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI welcomes a new ethical decision-making framework, published by the RPS, to support pharmacists and pharmacy teams faced with making difficult decisions linked to the exceptional impact of Covid-19.
The ethical decision-making framework was developed by a…
To aid in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government progressed legislation to allow the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society NI to temporarily register fit, proper and suitably experienced persons as pharmacists. We have registered over 260…
A new joint message on social distancing from the Pharmaceutical Society NI, the GPHC and representative organisations was issued on 30 March 2020. All frontline pharmacy teams are understandably concerned about protecting themselves from exposure to Covid-19. We share this…
26 March 2020 – “Yesterday (25 March) we brought together representatives from student and trainee representative bodies, universities, employers, education and training bodies and others from across the UK to discuss the key issues in relation to pre-registration training during…
25 March 2020
We recognise that this is an extremely challenging and uncertain time for all involved in pre-registration training and that there will be questions and concerns about training. We are actively considering a number of matters related to…
The Pharmacy network in Northern Ireland is currently working under extreme pressure, providing support for patient and the public during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We understand that these are incredibly stressful…
Forde May Consulting is seeking to appoint a new Registrar & Head of Registration, Education and Investigation on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and Department of Heath. The Pharmaceutical Society for Northern Ireland is the regulatory body…
The first concern of registered pharmacy professionals is the care of their patients and people who use health and social care services. It is important they use their professional judgement to assess any risk to the delivery of safe…
UK health organisations have today launched a new guide to help people make sure that medicines or treatment they get online are safe and right for them.
The guide includes six top tips for anyone going online for medicines or…
How we will continue to regulate in light of novel coronavirus (Covid-19)
We understand that as health and care professionals you may be feeling anxious about Novel coronavirus (Covid-19). Across the UK, public health organisations, government health officials and employers…
To ensure that all health professionals are getting the most accurate and up to date information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) please consult the Department of Health information, found here Depatment of Health COVID-19 Advice and here Public Health…
At its Council meeting of 28 January 2020, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved a Communications and Implementation Plan, agreed with our partners in the GPhC, to ensure a smooth change to a joint GPhC/Pharmaceutical Society NI…
The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020 at 11pm. We have entered a transition period until 31 December 2020. During the transition period, there will be no change to the way that EU/EEA-EFTA applicants apply for…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has today (15 January 2020) launched an 8-week public consultation on revised Threshold Criteria. The Registrar applies the Threshold Criteria when deciding on whether to refer fitness to practise allegations to the…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is seeking to appoint Committee Members for the Fitness to Practise and Registration Appeals Committees. The competency-based recruitment process is being independently carried out on behalf of Council by Forde…
The Councils of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have agreed to introduce a common registration examination for pharmacists in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The decision follows a consultation earlier this year…
The following statement was issued by the Pharmaceutical Society NI, the Regulator of Pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
We are aware of the industrial action, by many healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland, that is planned over the next few weeks. In…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (Council) met on 26 November 2019 at Ulster University in Coleraine.
During the public session Council made the following decisions:
1) Council reviewed the projected income and expenditure for 2020/2021 and considered the need…
Having considered the outcome of a public consultation at its meeting on 26 November 2019, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (Council) approved a joint 4-country GPhC/PSNI registration assessment, subject to the approval of the Council of the…
At its meeting on 26 November 2019, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI considered a proposal to launch a public consultation on new Guidance on the Provision of Services for pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
The…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published updated Guidance on Patient Consent. The work forms part of the regulator’s ongoing review of its Standards and Guidance documents, which support pharmacists in Northern Ireland to comply with the…
Healthcare organisations including regulators, royal colleges and faculties, are today, the 8 November 2019 issuing a set of principles to help protect patient safety and welfare when accessing potentially harmful medication online or over the phone.
The jointly agreed High…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a 12-week public consultation on proposals to update its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Framework.
Speaking about the public consultation, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of Council stated:
“Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved the Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2018-19, at its meeting on Thursday 19 September 2019. This Report was laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly on…
In acknowledgement of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s World Pharmacist Day, which is focusing on safe and effective medicines for all, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, made the following statement:
“I wish to acknowledge, on World Pharmacist…
The Registrar issued 76 statutory demands on 14 June 2019 to those pharmacists who remained unpaid in their membership fees for 2019-20. On 14 August 2019 all recipients of this demand had:
- Paid the relevant fee, or
- Been…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2018-19. Removal is effective…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has today (02 August 2019) launched a consultation on its preferred option to develop a joint 4-country wide final registration assessment with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Speaking about the consultation launch, Dr…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published updated Guidance on ‘Maintaining Clear Sexual Boundaries with Patients and Carers for Pharmacists in Northern Ireland. The work forms part of the regulator’s ongoing review of its Standards and Guidance…
The leaders of nine healthcare regulators have joined forces to stress the benefits and importance of good reflection among professionals in the healthcare sector.
The chief executives have signed a joint statement – Benefits of becoming a reflective practitioner…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published updated Guidance on Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) for Pharmacists in Northern Ireland. The work forms part of the regulator’s ongoing review of its Standards and Guidance documents, which support pharmacists…
The Professional Standards Authority publishes its review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland’s performance for 2017/18
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its annual performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, which can be found here. The…
The Department of Health has announced the appointments of a Vice President, a Lay Member and four Registrant Members to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. Mr Jonathan Patton is appointed as Vice President, Mrs Carol Moore…
Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the Pharmaceutical Society NI and GPhC collaborate substantively in terms of educational functions. In particular, and to ensure that there is a consistent approach to undergraduate pharmacy education throughout the UK, the Pharmaceutical Society…
As the Statutory Regulator for pharmacists in Northern Ireland we have a duty to ensure that everyone on our register is able to practise safely (fitness to practise) – we achieve this by having rigorous entry procedures to the…
The latest edition of the Regulatory Update newsletter is now available. In this edition Dr Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, outlines our plans for 2019. We introduce our new Policy, Standards and Communications Team and provide a reminder…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, approved the Annual Report for the year 2017-18, at its meeting on Tuesday 18 September. This Report has been laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday 25…
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2018-19. Removal was effective from 02 September 2018 and is processed…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (the Council) has launched an 8-week public consultation on new Indicative Sanctions Guidance for its Statutory Committee and is seeking responses from the public, pharmacists and interested stakeholders.
Commenting on the launch of…
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2017-18. Removal is effective…
On Tuesday 21 August at 7pm, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is holding an information evening to explain the recently launched consultation on Rebalancing Medicine Legislation and Regulations. In conjunction with the Departments of Health, Belfast and London,…
As an outcome of the work of the Rebalancing Medicines Legislation and Pharmacy Regulation Programme Board, the Department of Health and Social Care (London) has launched two UK wide consultations on behalf of the 4 UK health departments.
The consultations…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved new Premises Standards for implementation in registered pharmacies in Northern Ireland at its Council meeting on Tuesday 05 June 2018.
In a statement the President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim…
To fulfil our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published a revised Privacy Statement. This statement details the legal basis replied upon in the collection and processing of data by the Pharmaceutical Society NI, for…
The portal for online CPD submission is now open, and will remain open until 31 May 2018 (mid-night). Completed cycle entries can now be transferred into your CPD portfolio for 2017/18 and submitted any time during this two-month period.
Remember…
Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said: We welcome the recent announcement by Jeremy Hunt in relation to improving the safety of medicines. The issues described are not confined to England and the devolved administrations are also…
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland as part of its annual review of the nine statutory health regulators across the UK. The performance review assesses whether each regulator…
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, today (6/11/17) welcomed the publication by the Department of Health of the initial findings of the Consultation on the Future of Pharmacy Regulation in Northern Ireland.
In a statement Dr…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched an eight week consultation on draft Premises Standards, closing at 12 noon on Monday 27 November 2017. In preparation for commencement of new legislation, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is proposing…
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, has welcomed the introduction of new Regulations in relation to the annotation of pharmacists as Independent Prescribers.
Speaking today Dr Livingstone said, “Since identifying that specific regulations were not in…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, approved the Annual Report for the year 2016-17, at its meeting on Thursday 14 September. This Report has been laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly and…
The following individuals have been removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland for non payment of fees, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.
Removal is effective from 1 September 2017 (inclusive).
Today, along with the CEOs of the other 8 healthcare regulators, Trevor Patterson signed a Joint Statement containing advice for healthcare registrants on dealing with conflicts of interest.
The statement sets out how health professionals should be aware of…
Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2016-17. Removal is effective from 8 August 2017 (Inclusive) and is processed…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is looking to appoint a minimum of eight experienced clinical advisers, with a range of expertise to its Clinical Advisers List. Clinical advisers will provide advice to Fitness to Practise Committees on health related issues.
Clinical…
Following the closure of the Consultation in January on the proposed new Regulations for Independent and Supplementary Prescribers, draft Regulations have been passed to the Department of Health for approval and completion of the NI Assembly processes.
We recognise that…
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland as part of its annual review of the nine statutory health and social care regulators across the UK. The performance review assesses…
The portal to online submission is now open and anyone with a completed CPD portfolio can submit it online. The portal remains open until 31 May 2017(mid-night) and portfolios can be submitted any time during…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is holding two meetings in relation to the changes being proposed in Pharmacy Premise Standards. These events are primarily for Pharmacy Owners and Superintendents, to provide them with an insight into, and an understanding of, the forthcoming draft…
Premise registration for 2017 is now being processed. Details of how to register a premise for the coming year can be found on the Registration page of this website by clicking here
Note: Section 75 of the Medicines Act…
Following our recent communication to all Independent Prescribers, the Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched a consultation on proposals for amendment to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994, in respect of “Pharmacist Prescriber” annotations. This is an…
In accordance with the legislation governing the Pharmaceutical Society of NI, the Annual Report for 2015-16 was laid today, (19 September 2016) in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The report can be viewed at www.psni.org.uk/publications/annual-reports-2/. The report will be presented at…
Pharmacist Independent Prescribers (IPs) in Northern Ireland have been sent a letter today (12 Sept 2016) informing them of an issue that has been identified in relation to the annotation of IPs on the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in…
Please see below the list of those pharmacists who have been removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland (and who at the date of this notice remain unregistered) due to non-payment of fees for the year 2016-17.
Removal…
The following Pharmacists have been removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance, relating to the CPD year 2015-16. Removal is effective from 4 August 2016…
As of the 15 June 2016, 83.5% of registrants had paid their retention fee online, compared to 40% last year. This is an extremely positive response to the organisation’s drive to get registrants to switch to the online system.
Reflecting…
Carrying out Continued Professional Development (CPD) is crucial for professionals to maintain high standards of practice, skills development and the delivery of safe services to the public and 2015/16 looks set to be a record year for pharmacists complying…
At its Council meeting of 5 July 2016, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI agreed that their response to the Department of Health’s (NI) consultation “the Future of Pharmacy Regulation in Northern Ireland” should be published. Below is a…
On Thursday 21 April, the President, Dr Jim Livingstone, presented Dr Lisa Byers and Mrs Brenda Maitland with a small gift to mark their retirement form the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI. Commenting on the occasion, Dr Livingstone said…
All Pharmacists wishing to remain on the Register of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI must complete the retention process by 1 June 2016.
This year we are encouraging registrants to complete the process using our on-line retention system which can be…
In order to better meet the changing needs of public protection by the regulation of pharmacy in Northern Ireland the Pharmaceutical Society NI are seeking to recruit a “pharmacist pre-registration lead” to work as part of a small team. Further details,…
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is seeking to appoint six Council Members to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (five registered persons and one lay member). To be appointed with effect from 1 June 2016.
Details
The…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched its new Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland).
At a well-attended launch event on Tuesday 9 February the President Dr Jim Livingstone said “the new Code seeks…
In the letter to registrants of 17 September 2015 the President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI indicated that a fees consultation would be launched for the registration year 2016/17.
Today the Pharmaceutical Society NI is launching…
Following recent claims that patients and the public have been inappropriately influenced by health professionals when making decisions about where they access services, including flu vaccinations and dispensing of prescriptions, the General Medical Council (GMC), General Pharmaceutical Council…
During the period when the CPD portal is not open, we are providing two forms on which CPD cycles can be recorded.
These forms are in Word and details can be recorded and saved on these forms. Once the portal is up…
Following the official laying of the Pharmaceutical Society NI’s Annual report with the Northern Ireland Assembly, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone said: “I was absolutely delighted to be appointed President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI…
Following the meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, held on 14 September 2015, President of the Council, Dr. Jim Livingstone said: “Each year we raise money through fees to fund operations and services in…
The annual Professional Standards Authority (PSA) review of all healthcare regulators was published on 26 June 2015. This report details the Authority’s review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI for the year 2014. The report can be accessed via the PAS’s…
The following registrant pharmacists have been removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the directive of the Registrar due to non-compliance with their statutory CPD requirements relating to the CPD year 2014-15. Removal is effective from…
From 1 July 2015 online sellers of medicines to the general public (including pharmacies) need to be registered in the UK with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) if established in the UK and to be on…
Health and Social Care Regulators from across the UK held an information and networking event at Parliament Buildings in Stormont on Tuesday 2 June. The event focused on how health and social care regulators, Government…
Following the consultation on the proposals for standards on Monitored Dosage Systems the Council decided not to issue formal standards. However, the Council has asked the Registrar to issue a regulatory statement. The…
Continuing Professional Development has been a statutory requirement for registration with the Pharmaceutical Society NI since 1 June 2013. To comply with this requirement all pharmacist registrants must submit a compliant CPD portfolio, on an annual basis, before the…
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland today launched a consultation on a new Code of Conduct for all pharmacists in Northern Ireland to replace its previous Code of Ethics.
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The proposals on pharmacy dispensing errors and standards would give a new defence against criminal prosecution for pharmacy professionals if they make an inadvertent dispensing error. The four Departments of Health have launched a consultation into the proposals. It will run until…
Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI, commenting on his recent appointment said “It is a great honour and privilege, and not least a unique challenge to be the first non-pharmacist to be ap-pointed as President…
All annual retention forms for registered premises have been mailed today, 28th Nov 2014.
Forms and fees, for retention on the premises register, must be with the Pharmaceutical Society NI by 1 January 2015
Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, today congratulated Mr Peter McKee, the organisation’s Pre-Registration Lead, and all the other staff involved in creating and developing the pre-registration e-portfolio, which won the Bronze award at…
The Chief Executives of 8 healthcare regulators today published a joint statement on the professional duty of Candour: www.psni.org.uk/publications/regulatory-correspondence/. This statement highlights the Pharmaceutical Society NI’s commitment to place patient safety at the centre…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a 3 month consultation on the level of the Annual retention and other associated fees for registrants for the years commencing 1st June 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Registrant…
The report, which was laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly on 17th September, reflects on the first complete year of activity under the new Council and sets out its achievements in the last year and aspirations for 2014/15. You…
See below list of those pharmacists who were removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland (and who at the date of this notice remain unregistered) due to non-payment of fees for the…
The following pharmacists were removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland for non-compliance with the CPD requirements for the year 2013-14.Removal is effective from 16 August 2014 (Inclusive).
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is inviting comments on draft Standards for the provision of Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS). These Standards outline the professional and legal responsibilities pharmacists have with respect to the provision of MDS to patients.
As a healthcare…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a policy setting out how it will publish and disclose information relating to the fitness to practise of pharmacist registrants. This policy replaces the interim policy which has been in…
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety NI, has launched a recruitment exercise seeking new lay and registrant members for the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI.
Details and application forms can be found at Online application…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has published new Guidance on the statutory requirement to hold appropriate indemnity cover and what this means for our registrants. This Guidance has been produced following a consultation which closed in April 2014….
The final CPD framework has been published today following a consultation on the concluding part of the CPD framework and final agreement by Council.
This composite framework brings together the previously published CPD framework part…
Since 1 June 2013, Continuing Professional Development has been a statutory requirement for registration with the Pharmaceutical Society NI. This means that all pharmacist registrants must submit a CPD portfolio on or before 31 May 2014 in…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is inviting comments on draft guidance for registrants on the statutory requirement to have appropriate indemnity cover as a condition of registration. This means that in order to be registered with the Pharmaceutical…
At its January meeting (27/1/14) the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI noted, with regret, the resignation of Ms Jacqui Dougan MPSNI as member of Council and President, for personal and private reasons.
Vice President Garry McKenna said “Since the…
Today (9/1/14), the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI published the learnings from five Fitness to Practise cases that were held in 2013. Every pharmacist, pre registration pharmacist and student studying pharmacy are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a consultation on the concluding part of the CPD framework. We are seeking views on how we will manage applications for extenuating circumstances and procedures relating to restoration to…
At the Council meeting held on 26th September the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved its formal response and action plan in relation to the Francis Report and the subsequent Berwick Report.
Speaking after the Council meeting President Ms…
Following the official laying of the Pharmaceutical Society NI’s Annual report with the Northern Ireland Assembly, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Ms Jacqui Dougan said: “When the new Pharmacy Order came into effect last October, one of the…
The following were Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the instruction of the Council, due to the Non-payment of fees relating to the membership year 2013-14. Please click here to see the list…
The Pharmaceutical Society has written to members affected by a breach of its Data Protection procedures. A small number of registrants have been notified of a breach of its Data Protection Procedures where documents intended for shredding were inadvertently…
The Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI today welcomed the publication of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) annual independent review into the activities of the nine healthcare regulators including the Pharmaceutical Society NI.*
The…
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Ms Jacqui Dougan this morning launched the organisation’s Corporate Strategy “A New Era 2013-16”(click on the link to see a copy). Speaking before the launch Ms Dougan said “Since assuming office last…
From 1 June 2013, all pharmacists will have a legal obligation to undertake and record Continuing Professional Development activity (CPD) in order to maintain registration as a pharmacy professional in Northern Ireland. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process…
As we approach the conclusion of the CPD year 2012-13, I would like to clarify the arrangements for CPD submission/assessment for June 2013.
For the CPD year (1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013) CPD submission and assessment will be…
New Standards for pharmacist prescribers have been issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland today.It replaces the previous edition published in 2009 and follows a public consultation held in December 2012.
The revised Standards and Guidance provides more detailed…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is pleased to promote, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress. In 2013 FIP will host its Annual Congress in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and its Irish partners in Dublin.
In a constantly…
Today, the Registrar and the Chair of the Standards Committee published a letter relating to e-cigarettes. The key paragraph in the correspondence make the following point:- “In the standard of the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists in Northern…
In light of the release of the Francis Report into the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust the Pharmaceutical Society NI believes it is timely to launch and reiterate our guidance on Raising Concerns. This guidance underlines the duty of pharmacists to…
What information should you know and have access to about your local pharmacist and their fitness to practise? This is the key question the Pharmaceutical Society NI is asking, please give us your views. Today we are launching a…
At the recent Council meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society NI , the President and members congratulated Prof Martin Bradley on being awarded the OBE in the New Year’s Honours List. Prof Bradley, was, until April 2012, the Chief Nursing Officer of…
From 1st October 2012, the Pharmaceutical Society NI embarks on a new era, as new legislation in the form of the Pharmacy (NI) Order 1976 (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 comes into operation, bringing additional fitness to practise sanctions, statutory…
In preparation for the introducton of Statutory Continuing Professional Develoment in June 2013, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is required to develop and consult on a CPD Framework which details the CPD processes to be operated for assessment, mitigation, remediation and…
With the enactment of new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) regulations in June 2013, CPD is set to become a statutory requirement of registration. This means that in future, CPD will be required to be undertaken by all registrants to…
Under the new legislation which came into effect on1st October 2012, the Pharmaceutical Society NI and the Registrar are legally obliged to make available to the public, employers and other pharmacists, a registrant’s fitness to practise status.
To enable the…