APTUK Position Statement for DHSC PGD Update
The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), as the professional leadership body for pharmacy technicians, welcome the positive outcome of the DHSC consultation supporting the enabling of registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medications under patient group directions.
This is a landmark moment for patient care and will ensure pharmacy technicians are able to safely expand access to pharmacy services in a pressured healthcare landscape. During the COVID-19 pandemic it was also evident that pharmacy technicians and their potential were not able to be fully utilised to support delivery of essential frontline pharmacy services, such as vaccination.
To practise using a PGD, healthcare professionals must have completed any training outlined in the PGD and have been deemed competent and authorised by the provider organisation. As registered profession, pharmacy technicians must also uphold pharmacy professional standards stipulated by the regulator the General Pharmaceutical Council, and complete continued professional development relevant for their area of practice and role.
APTUK acknowledge that initially the powers will apply in England, Wales & Scotland only. This is because pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland are not currently registered, therefore the planned changes will not enable pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland to use PGDs. APTUK are assured that once pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland become registered and regulated, further amendments may be made to permit this.
With this announcement, APTUK have also released the first in a series of supportive documents to educate and support pharmacy technicians with their scope of practice with such developments and changes to legislation.
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