Patients picking up the one billion prescription items dispensed in Great Britain every year* will benefit from greater protection thanks to a new compulsory register being introduced on 1 July 2011. The register will improve protection for patients by ensuring only those qualified, competent and under a duty to maintain high standards are able to work as a pharmacy technician in Great Britain.
Pharmacy technicians play an increasingly important role working with pharmacists to support the safe management, supply and use of medicines, whether on prescription or over the counter in community pharmacies and in hospitals.
The register is held by the new pharmacy regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which was established in 2010 to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, particularly those who use pharmaceutical services.
GPhC chief executive and registrar Duncan Rudkin, said “This register is good news for patients. We all take prescription medicine at one time or another, whether we’re at home or in hospital. And when we do, we take it for granted we’ve been given the right medicine, the right dosage and been advised correctly about when and how to take it. Now patients can be assured the pharmacy technicians, who play such an important part in pharmacy care and services, are qualified, registered and accountable. Compulsory registration means improved patient safety by bringing this professional group into line with other registered healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, doctors and nurses.”
Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of National Voices, the charity coalition for health and social care, said “Patients need to feel confident that healthcare professionals are trained, competent and keep up to date as a matter of routine. Statutory registration has an important role to play in this. At National Voices we are pleased to see the General Pharmaceutical Council working to highlight what patients can expect from registered pharmacy professionals.”