Uniquely on this occasion, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has worked closely with representatives of the pharmacy sector for six months in the run up to the release of its Pharmacy Supervision consultation. It is therefore reassuring to see that the consultation broadly supports the Supervision Practice Group’s recommendations. This builds trust and confidence in the process and consequently, is cautiously welcomed by the PDA.
If the changes proposed in the group’s report are delivered and the process is undertaken in the right way, this is an opportunity for welcome transformational improvements in pharmacy practice. However, it is noted that some of the group’s recommendations have not been taken up at this time and the PDA has sought assurances from the DHSC that they will be.
The PDA is cautious because the model of community pharmacy supervision needed to support the modernised model of practice described in the Supervision Practice Group’s report can only be delivered if changes to the law are simultaneously supported by new and joined up Rules and Regulations from the regulator and followed through by appropriate professional guidance.
The changes to the law being proposed in this consultation are broadly a good starting point but until, and unless, the new regulations and professional guidance provide the required clarity, the overall picture of how supervision will work in a modernised community pharmacy practice landscape will not become fully apparent.
PDA Chairman, Mark Koziol said, “We eagerly await the continuation of the consultation process and hope that the process will reflect the views contained in the Supervision Practice Group’s report. As far as the current consultation on changes to the law is concerned, we will engage with and listen to our members over the coming weeks and encourage them to respond to the formal consultation.”
PDA members with any comments or questions are encouraged to submit them to the PDA by emailing supervision2023@the-pda.org
The PDA stands ready to support the next phase of the journey.
Learn more
- Supervision in community pharmacy: Recommendations from the Supervision Practice Group
- Open consultation: Pharmacy supervision
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