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A pharmacy superintendent's view
Evelyn Mackenzie has been a pharmacist for almost 30 years. She is currently a superintendent pharmacist with responsibility for three community pharmacies in the Forth Valley.
Clarifying roles and responsibilities
Evelyn believes that by setting clear standards, the GPhC can clarify the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. She hopes that having an independent regulatory body will free up the professional body to represent pharmacists more effectively: 'Without the regulatory mantle, the professional body can do more for us as professionals.'
Making pharmacy more transparent
The establishment of the GPhC will help the profession to keep pace with changes in the way in which people access information about health. While she believes that levels of trust in pharmacists are high, Evelyn feels that there is a need for greater transparency: 'People are used to having easy access to information from the internet now. Greater transparency will help give them more confidence in the profession.'
Promoting good health
The GPhC aims to regulate the broader clinical role of pharmacists, including the promotion of health and wellbeing. As Evelyn says: 'Pharmacists, and in particular those working in community pharmacies, have always promoted good health. I think the Government has cottoned on to that! But anything that encourages health promotion is a good thing.'
Formalising continuing professional development
Evelyn welcomes the increased formalisation of continuing professional development (CPD): 'Most community pharmacists are already working hard to stay up to date, but we're not so good at keeping a record of what we've done. More formalised development will help us all. People will need to adapt, but the young graduates coming through now will see it as the norm.' Evelyn also believes that mandatory CPD will help to encourage recruitment.