Responsible Pharmacist

• What pieces of legislation tie in with this theme?

  • Medicines Act 1968 (as amended by the Health Act 2006)
  • Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008
• What is the responsible pharmacist?

  • In order to lawfully conduct a retail pharmacy business, a registeredpharmacist must be in charge of the registered pharmacy as the responsible pharmacist.
• What is the role of the responsible pharmacist?

  • Secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy
  • Display a notice with your name, registration number and the factthat you are in charge of the pharmacy at that time
  • Complete the pharmacy record
  • Establish, maintain and keeping under review pharmacy proceduresfor safe working
• Can the responsible pharmacist run more than one pharmacy at once? why?

  • You can only be the Responsible Pharmacist in charge of onepharmacy at any given time.
  • If you believe a pharmacy is not safe or patients are at risk thenyou’ll need to take steps to secure the safe and effective running ofthe pharmacy.
• What are the main 3 questions to ask yourself as the responsible pharmacist?

  *Have you displayed the notice with your details?* Have you completed the pharmacy record?*Are you intending to be absent from the pharmacy for up to two hours?
• What are the details of displaying a notice?

  • Displaying a notice is a requirement
  • Information must include:
  • Your name
  • Your GPhC registration number
  • The fact you are in charge of the pharmacy at the time.
• What is the pharmacy record?

  • Audit trail of who was accountable for the safe and effective runningof the pharmacy
  • Allows you to find out the Responsible Pharmacist on any given dateand at any time
  • The record must be accurate and made at the time by theResponsible Pharmacist.
  • The record should also accurately record any absence.
• What details must be recorded in the pharmacy record?

  • The Responsible Pharmacist’s name
  • The Responsible Pharmacist’s registration number
  • The date and time at which the pharmacist became the ResponsiblePharmacist
  • The date and time at which the Responsible Pharmacist stopped being theResponsible Pharmacist
  • If you are absent from the premises:
  • The date of absence
  • The time at which you leave the pharmacy
  • The time at which you come back
• How long does the pharmacy record get kept for and in what forms?

  must keep thepharmacy record for a period of FIVE years.* The record must be available at the pharmacy to which it relates.* The Pharmacy Record may be kept in the following formats:* In writing* Electronically* Or in both forms* If the record is kept electronically it needs to be backed up, kept on thepharmacy premises, and available for GPhC inspection if required.
• How long can the responsible pharmacist be absent for?

  • The Responsible Pharmacist may be absent for up to a maximumperiod of two hours during the pharmacy’s business hoursbetween midnight and midnight.
  • If there is more than one Responsible Pharmacist in charge of thepharmacy during the pharmacy’s business hours, the total period ofabsence for all the Responsible Pharmacists must not exceed twohours.
  • Do not remove the notice if you intend to remain the ResponsiblePharmacist during your absence
• What are the requirements for being absent?

  • Only be absent if the pharmacy can continue to run safely andeffectively
  • Remain contactable with the pharmacy staff
  • Be able to return to the pharmacy with reasonable promptness
• What do you need to include when recording your absence?

  • In the pharmacy record note the following if you are absent from thepremises:
  • The date of absence
  • The time at which you leave the pharmacy
  • The time at which you come back
• What activities require the responsible pharmacist present?

  • Professional check (clinical and legal check) of a prescription
  • Sale/Supply of pharmacy medicines
  • Sale/Supply of prescription-only medicines (e.g. handing dispensedmedicines to patient, patient representative or a delivery person)
  • Supply of medicines under a patient group direction (PGD)
  • Wholesale of medicines
  • Emergency Supply of a medicine(s) at the request of a patient orhealthcare professional
• What activities require the responsible pharmacist absent but supervising?

  The assembly process:* Generating a dispensing label* Taking medicines off the dispensary shelves* Assembly of the item (e.g. counting tablets)* Labelling of containers with the dispensing label* Accuracy checking
• What activities require the responsible pharmacist absent?

  • Sale of general sale list (GSL) medicines
  • Processing waste stock medicines or patient returned medicines(excluding Controlled Drugs)
• What activities can carry on with no responsible pharmacist?

  • Ordering stock from pharmaceutical wholesalers
  • Receiving stock from pharmaceutical wholesalers into the building (excluding Controlled Drugs)
  • Putting medicinal stock received from the wholesaler away onto the pharmacy shelves (GSL, P, and POMs,excluding CDs)
  • Date Checking (excluding CDs)
  • Stocking pharmacy with consumables
  • Cleaning of the pharmacy
  • Responding to enquiries (about medicine issues)
  • Accessing the PMR
  • Receiving prescription directly from patients or collecting from a surgery
  • Processing of prescription forms that have been dispensed (eg. Counting number of items dispensed, sorting prior submission for reimbursement)
  • Delivery person conveying medicines to patient
  • Receiving patient returned medicines (excluding controlled drugs)