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Q. What is the future of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)?
Q. Why isn't Northern Ireland involved?
Q. Is Scotland committed to UK-wide regulation and, if so, is this likely to change?
Q. Are pharmacy technicians in Scotland to be statutorily regulated?
Q. Will there be geographical or sectoral representation on council?
Q. How will the GPhC be able to regulate across increasingly divergent healthcare systems?
A. Measures are included in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to enable the creation of the GPhC and the transfer of all regulatory functions of RPSGB and PSNI to it. Northern Ireland Ministers have taken the decision not to transfer the PSNI's functions at this stage, but they have the power to do so in the future.
Any section 60 Order to make these changes would be subject to consultation and the affirmative resolution procedure, with debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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A. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 enables the transfer of the regulatory functions of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) if Northern Ireland Ministers so choose. The Minister has indicated that he will make a final decision after the GPhC is established in Great Britain.
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A. There is a current commitment to UK-wide regulation, sensitive to Scotland's needs. The regulation of pharmacy technicians in Scotland is currently devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and a 'National Conversation' sought views on whether the Scottish Government should be given responsibility for certain reserved areas, including the regulation of the major healthcare professions, which would include pharmacists. However, the November 2009 White Paper ''Scotland's Future in the United Kingdom'' reflects the findings of the Calman Commission and states that the Government intends to reserve the regulation of all health care profession back to Westminster, although it is not clear when this might be implemented.
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A. Yes. The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009 extended statutory regulation by the RPSGB to pharmacy technicians in Scotland and these provisions are transferred into the GPhC through the provisions of the draft Pharmacy Order. Statutory regulation of pharmacy technicians in Great Britain came into force on 1st July 2009.
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A. There are no places reserved specifically for each of the professions regulated by the GPhC, nor for specific sectors of practice.
However, in the interests of reflecting the differences in health service delivery in the three countries there is a provision within the Pharmacy Order to ensure that there is at least one person on the council from each of the three participating countries.
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A. It is expected that the GPhC will work closely with the policy makers within GB Governments to ensure that account is taken of divergent healthcare systems when formulating regulatory policy. The Pharmacy Order has been drafted with broad provisions and maximum flexibility to allow the GPhC to regulate across the rapidly changing and diverse terrain of pharmacy practice. The changes to pharmacy professional regulation are part of an integrated set of developments to UK pharmacy services to meet future health needs and the way in which services are to be delivered.
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