AQW 13806/22-27

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Alliance Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 25/06/2024
Answered On Date: 11/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health when the two year time requirement for entry to stand-alone pharmacist independent prescribing training will be removed.

Answer:

I am aware that following a public consultation, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (the Society) approved proposals in June 2022 to make changes to requirements for training as a pharmacist independent prescriber and being annotated as an independent prescriber on the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists, which included removing the two-year time requirement for entry onto stand-alone pharmacist independent prescribing training.

The Society has set up the Education Reform Implementation Group (ERIG) and is collaborating with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and relevant stakeholders to update guidance and address the legislative changes needed for this reform.

It is the responsibility of the Society rather than the Department of Health, to make the necessary legislative changes to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994/202, although my Department has an approval function before the legislation is made.

I understand that the Society is in discussion with its legal advisers on the proposed regulatory changes and to establish a timetable.

When clarified, the Society will discuss the proposals and timeline with its partners and submit the draft regulatory changes to my Department for its scrutiny and approval.