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02.02.10 -
Thousands of pharmacists join call for original pack dispensing
The unified voice of almost 4,000 pharmacists has given the Society a powerful mandate for action when they gave their views in a survey on dispensing medicines to patients in original packs.
The Society’s English Pharmacy Board (EPB) kicked off the national call for original pack dispensing at the end of last year in a bid to improve medicines safety for patients and to reduce medicines waste.
Survey results released today to gauge the feeling amongst the profession show that pharmacists are strongly behind this initiative with 65 per cent saying that snipping packs to supply the right amount was a significant problem. Currently community pharmacists frequently dispense medicines from manufacturers’ original packs when the pack size does not correspond to the prescribed quantity.
Ninety one per cent of survey correspondents (3,551 pharmacists) said accessing and providing an additional Patient Information Leaflet was one of the problems with not being able to use original packs. Other chosen survey answers included the increased time taken to dispense some items (80.3%), mixed batches and packaging leading to a loss of patient confidence in medicine effectiveness (79.1%) and feeling that snipping tablets is unprofessional (77.8%).
RPSGB Director for England, Howard Duff says; “We know the impact that cutting up an original pack can have on a patient’s ability to take medicine correctly either through lost instructions or the possibility of mixed batches.
“It is also time consuming for the pharmacist and can contribute to medicines wastage. We’ve now had a clear signal from the profession that this issue is important to them and we intend to campaign for change.”
The majority of pharmacists thought supplying the most appropriate original pack and being reimbursed accordingly (86.6%) was the solution, this was followed by ‘ensuring all medication is produced in pack sizes equivalent to an agreed 28 day month’ (72.7%) and third choice was ‘ensure all prescriptions always match an original pack for chronic condition treatment’ (48%).
A meeting was held on Friday, chaired by Professor Nick Barber, to allow representatives from community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, primary care organisations, and academia to evaluate survey results and the issues raised. Workshops included exploring the positive and negative sides to change, discussing interesting scenarios if original pack dispensing was in place along with looking at solutions and barriers to the problem.
The consensus agreed that community pharmacists in England should have the ability to dispense original packs where it’s appropriate for their patients and to be reimbursed for what they dispense.
The Society’s next step will be to work with the new English Pharmacy Board members on how it can use the powerful voice of its members and other stakeholders to influence the government to implement original pack dispensing.
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02.02.10 -
Society signs partnership agreement to support veterinary pharmacists
The first partnership agreement between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Harper Adams University College has been signed to provide pharmacy graduates with specialist courses in veterinary pharmacy and to enable their continuing professional development.
The agreement will also provide opportunities for closer collaboration, the sharing of expertise and joint proposals for research and outreach activities.
Jeremy Holmes, RPSGB Chief Executive said: “This is an exciting opportunity to provide support for a special interest group within pharmacy. We are delighted to be working with Harper Adams University College to raise the profile of veterinary pharmacy through the provision of high-quality specialist courses.
“The Society as the new professional body will represent a wide variety of interests and give members the tools they need to pursue and extend their chosen career path. I hope this will be the first of many such agreements as we look to build partnerships across the sector.”
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02.02.10 -
Society welcomes House of Lords approval of draft pharmacy order
On 1 February 2010, the House of Lords approved the draft Pharmacy Order following the approval from both the Scottish Parliament last year and the House of Commons in January.
Jeremy Holmes, Chief Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said; “I am delighted that we have taken this significant step forward on the road to creating a professional leadership body for pharmacy. With this legislative hurdle removed we are aiming for the Society, as the professional body, to be ready for launch as soon as regulation is transferred to the General Pharmaceutical Council.
“The new professional body will have a clear identity with leadership and advocacy at its heart, as well as a full suite of support and development services. With the new national Boards now elected there is a clear groundswell of support for the process of building the professional body, and a growing level of confidence that it will be a first class organisation to lead and support pharmacists effectively across Great Britain. I look forward to keeping members fully informed as we move towards launch of the new body.”
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