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January 2012

Regulation of Pharmacists in the UK

What does a pharmacist do?

A pharmacist’s duties will depend on where they work. Most pharmacists work in high street pharmacies and hospitals. Others work in pharmaceutical sales, in prisons, in primary care organisations or in universities teaching.

A pharmacist is a trained medical professional who is responsible for properly dispensing medication, supervising medicines and ensuring pharmacy systems are fit for purpose. They are also responsible for advising people on minor ailments, and ensuring the medications are compatible. Pharmacists may also offer services to patients, such as smoking cessation advice, blood pressure measurement and cholesterol management.

Pharmacists therefore need to liaise with doctors and supervising technicians on a regular basis. They are also required to ensure products are stored securely and ensure that computer records are kept.

What qualifications does a pharmacist need?

Pharmacists must be precise and accurate in their work to ensure that patients are given the correct medication and are given proper advice.

Pharmacists must be registered to work in the NHS. To be registered, a pharmacist needs a degree from one of the schools of pharmacy approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), who regulate pharmacists. Pharmacists must then undertake a one year pre registration period within a pharmacy setting, followed by a GPhC Registration exam.

What do pharmacists study?

Trainee pharmacists will study the following areas:

1. The origin and chemistry of drugs.
2. The preparation of medicines. This includes the formulation of drugs into dosage, quality control and preparation of medicines on a smaller scale. The aim of this is to ensure medicines are correctly prepared and dispensed to people.
3. How medicines are used.
4. Counselling, dispensing and ethical aspects of pharmacy. This enables pharmacists to advise people on minor ailments, and on other aspects of health promotion.

How are pharmacists regulated?

Once qualified, pharmacists are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), who regulate all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain.

The General Pharmaceutical Council regulates pharmacists by:

- Approving qualifications and pharmacy technicians.
- Accrediting education and training providers.
- Maintaining a register of properly qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises.
- Setting standards for professional, fitness to practise, and ethical standards.
- Setting and promoting standards for the safe and effective practice of pharmacy at registered pharmacies, ensuring that all registrants maintain their knowledge by completing continuing professional development.
- Monitoring pharmacy professionals’ fitness to practise.
- Dealing fairly and proportionately with complaints and concerns.

Why regulate pharmacists?

Regulation of pharmacists is designed to protect the health and safety of people who use the services of pharmacies. This is important to ensure people are dispensed the correct medication and are given proper advice on the medication and any other relevant information.

How are standards met?

The General Pharmaceutical Council are also responsible for ensuring that standards are met. This is achieved by the following:

- Ensuring pharmacists complete a fitness to practise declaration during their annual renewal process and regularly undertake professional development.
- Visit pharmacies to monitor and ensure standards are being complied with.
- Investigate complaints about pharmacists, and offer advice and guidance where necessary.
- Restrict or remove a pharmacist’s freedom to practice.

Making a complaint about a pharmacist

If you are unhappy with the service you receive from a pharmacist, you can make a complaint to the General Pharmaceutical Council who will then proceed to investigate your complaint.

The General Pharmaceutical Council will only investigate allegations that a pharmacist’s fitness to practice has been impaired, including:

- Errors in dispensing medication.
- Sexual misconduct.
- Pharmacists who work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Fraud.
- Theft and dishonesty.

Complaints can be made to the General Pharmaceutical Council by post at:

Raising a concern
GPhC
129 Lambeth Road
London
SE1 7BT

Or by email at concerns@pharmacyregulation.org.

Claiming compensation for an injury suffered as a result of a dispensing error

The General Pharmaceutical Council are unable to deal with claims for compensation.

Thompsons have successfully recovered compensation for clients who have suffered an injury as a result of being given the wrong type of medication, or the wrong dosage of medication by a pharmacist.

Examples of cases where Thompsons have successfully recovered compensation for clients

  • A dispensing error case where a client was dispensesd Ramipril 5mg instead of Lisinopril whish she took for 7 days. As a result of the pharmacist’s error, the client suffered from headaches, pins and needles, nausea and dizziness for 2-3 weeks.
  • A dispensing error case where the client was given the incorrect dose of anti biotics by a pharmacist for the treatment of anorectal sepsis.

Thompsons continue to act for a number of clients who have been prescribed incorrect medication by their GPs, or have been dispensed incorrect medication by a pharmacist. If you think you have suffered an injury as a result of a similar error, contact us for advice on how to make a claim.

Thompsons Solicitors have years of experience in dealing with cases involving clinical negligence.

If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury as a result of being given the wrong medication, or any other form of clinical negligence, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury compensation claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all matters relating to clinical negligence and will be able to advise you as to whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist clinical negligence solicitors and lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.

Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.