We asked for views on new draft Standards for Chief Pharmacists
This 12-week consultation asked for views on our draft Standards for Chief Pharmacists, which set out the professional responsibilities and describe the knowledge, conduct, and performance required by a Chief Pharmacist (or equivalent) to support their organisation and its staff to deliver safe and effective pharmacy services.
About our proposals
We developed these draft standards following new legislation which removes the threat of criminal penalties for accidental or unintentional preparation and dispensing errors by pharmacy staff working in hospitals and similar settings. To benefit from the defences the hospital (or relevant setting) must have a Chief Pharmacist (or equivalent) in post, who must be a registered pharmacist with the appropriate skills, training, and experience; and who must meet the Standards for Chief Pharmacists. These defences already apply to pharmacy staff working in registered pharmacies.
Through this consultation we asked for views on the draft standards, if there are any settings in which the standards could not be applied or met, and any positive or negative impacts of our proposals.
Developing the draft Standards for Chief Pharmacists is part of our strengthening pharmacy governance work, which aims to provide clarity around how pharmacies are organised and managed to help us make sure patients and the public continue to receive safe and effective pharmacy care. In the future we will also be developing and consulting on rules and Standards for Responsible Pharmacists, and Standards for Superintendent Pharmacists.