The GPhC is considering relaxing rules to allow pharmacist independent prescribers to supervise those in training. As experts in medicines, it makes sense for the profession to be able to do that.
At the moment, only Designated Medical Practitioners can supervise trainee independent prescribers. What the GPhC didn’t say in its consultation document was that to be a DMP, the medical practitioner must normally have had at least three years’ recent clinical experience with a group of patients/clients in the relevant field of practice. A similar length of time qualified is required to act as a tutor to a pre-reg pharmacy graduate, which helps to ensure sufficient experience can be obtained in the matters to which the person is acting as a mentor and coach.
The public’s trust in pharmacists has been earned over generations and independent prescribing is a natural and welcome part of the pharmacists’ evolving clinical role. It is important for that role to be sustainable and it must therefore be appropriately risk-managed.
The PDA welcomed the proposals to allow pharmacist independent prescribers to supervise those in training, but asked for similar governance measures to be retained as at present – for example that the supervisor must have recent, relevant experience as a prescriber, be competent in the clinical area in which the trainee wishes to prescribe and have been practising as an independent prescriber for at least three years.
Read our full response below.
THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT CAN BE READ HERE
