December 8th 2023

By Ailsa Colquhoun

DH consults on pharmacy supervision

Proposals maintain physical pharmacist presence

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has opened a consultation on proposals to update legislation around the supervision of activities by a pharmacist in a pharmacy. 

The consultation sets out proposals to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 across GB which would allow: 

• pharmacists to authorise  (not directly supervise) pharmacy technicians to carry out, or supervise others carrying out, the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale and supply of medicines; 
• pharmacists to authorise any member of the pharmacy team to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions in the absence of a pharmacist; and 
• pharmacy technicians to take primary responsibility for the preparation, assembly and dispensing of medicinal products in hospital aseptic facilities. 

These proposals are not a move towards allowing pharmacists to remotely supervise a community pharmacy. Physical presence of the responsible pharmacist in a retail pharmacy is not being changed as part of this reform.  

The aim is to enable pharmacists in community pharmacy to deliver more patient-facing clinical services - improving access to care for patients and releasing capacity in the wider NHS.  

A report from the Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group has informed this consultation. Response is online 

Dispensing doctor practices are outside the scope of this consultation.