The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is seeking views on the proposal to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMRs). This will allow registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under a PGD.
If implemented, the changes would enable registered pharmacy technicians to use PGDs across England, Wales, and Scotland in any setting including the NHS and independent and voluntary sectors. Currently, the proposals are not applicable to pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland as they are not yet registered with or regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The DHSC’s press release on the new proposals states that, “these powers do not mean that organisations are required to implement the use of PGDs by registered pharmacy technicians” and that, “PGDs should only be used where there is clear benefit for patient care without compromising patient safety and where there are clear governance arrangements and accountability.”
The PDA strongly believes that if the workforce in community pharmacy could be appropriately reconfigured and developed, then this would enable the sector to take on many new, professionally fulfilling, and exciting opportunities. However, when patient safety is at stake, this must be based on a strong foundation of proper skill mix, education, training and governance, and not purely ideology.
In 2019, the PDA published an in-depth assessment of the UK pharmacy technician workforce landscape. The report made proposals to develop the roles of community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to meet the needs of the NHS and the public. The PDA’s recommendations included;
- Development of roles in community pharmacy utilising skill mix
- Clarity and differentiation around professional and technical roles
- Development of the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians
- Public protection delivered through pharmacy regulation
- Definition of areas of responsibility and accountability for technicians
- Alignment of the interests of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The PDA is encouraging members to read the consultation and provide any comments to policy@the-pda.org by 18 September 2023 to help develop its response to the latest DHSC proposals.
PDA members who wish to respond to the consultation individually can also do so before 29 September 2023 here.
A webinar about the consultation is being hosted by NHS England on Thursday 7 September between 7-8 pm. Those who are interested in attending can register to attend here.
Learn more
- PHARMACY ECO-SYSTEM: Appropriate decisions needed on skill mix and respective responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- PDA responds to APTUK/PCPA consultation on possible national competency framework for primary care pharmacy technicians
- PDA report suggests action on grandparenting and educational standards of pharmacy technicians is required
- The Human Medicines Regulations 2012
- PDA release their Pharmacy Technicians Report in its entirety
- Proposal for the use of patient group directions by pharmacy technicians
- Pharmacy technicians and patient group directions webinar
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