We are currently working to finalise our new strategy for the next five years, and working together is a key theme running through this new strategy.
The world of pharmacy is changing, and the roles of those working in pharmacy are evolving alongside the way care is delivered. Change can be daunting. But by working together with the people we regulate, and with other regulators, organisations and individuals across health and social care, we can lay strong foundations for the future.
We are working together for a common purpose – for the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public. The professionalism and skill of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other people who own, run or support pharmacy services, keeps people who use pharmacy services safe. We support, facilitate and assure the public protection role of the pharmacy professions, in all the sectors and environments where they are caring for people.
I look forward to sharing our new strategy with you when it is published later this year, and to working collaboratively with everyone across pharmacy to achieve our common purpose.
Collaboration, not competition
In this edition of Regulate, we start with an article, ‘Collaboration not competition’. This article highlights that collaboration has also been a central theme during the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board’s ‘Big Conversation’ – a series of online events inviting people from across the UK pharmacy team to have their say on a vision and common purpose for the future of pharmacy professional leadership.
It’s important that ongoing engagement and collaboration is inclusive of both professions, those who represent, lead and support them, as well as those who commission and manage pharmacy services and the diverse range of organisations and businesses who provide them.
Focus on wellbeing
When meeting with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians during my time as chair of the GPhC, I have heard first-hand how the increasing demands and the high-pressure conditions under which pharmacy teams are often working can take a toll on their physical, mental, and emotional health.
Two of the pharmacists in the GPhC team have worked together to develop an article which signposts to a range of resources available to support wellbeing initiatives in the workplace, and highlights tools and strategies to create a healthier and supportive environment for pharmacy teams. This includes highlighting our standards for pharmacy professionals and for registered pharmacies, and how they can help to support the mental health and wellbeing of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the workplace.
Practical advice for real-life situations
In this edition of Regulate, we are focusing on some challenging real-life situations that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can face, and highlighting how our standards and guidance can help to navigate these challenging situations.
For example, our article on how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians use social media platforms professionally, produced jointly by the GPhC and PDA, summarises how our standards and guidance can be applied to a social media situation and provides some case study examples to help put the theory into a real-life scenario.
We also examine an issue that is being frequently raised with us– that of target setting and incentivisation. Whilst we understand the ongoing pressures that pharmacy owners, organisations and professionals may be facing, incentivising or setting targets on performance for employees can put undue pressure oh pharmacy teams to deliver services or approve patient consultations where it may not be appropriate to do so. Our article looks at the responsibilities of pharmacy professionals and owners in this area.
We also have practical advice on two very different subjects that I hope you’ll find useful. One article is on the safe and appropriate storage of medicines and the other is on how you can protect confidentiality and optimise consultations with people from diverse backgrounds.
Your views on Regulate
We hope you find this edition of Regulate relevant and useful for your practice.
We are about to begin a review of Regulate, and want to hear your thoughts on how we could improve Regulate and the other updates we share with you. Please let us know your thoughts on what topics and issues you want to hear about, and how you would like to receive that information, by sending an email to communications@pharmacyregulation.org.