Delegation for the new supervision

Supervision changes are almost here. How can your pharmacy prepare? asks Liam Stapleton, director, Metaphor Development

Long awaited changes to supervision in pharmacies are on the near horizon. We have had a consultation, and legislation has been written that has been welcomed. The changes will allow pharmacists to authorise pharmacy technicians to carry out, or supervise others carrying out, the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale and supply of medicines. 

Any member of the pharmacy team will be able to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions in the absence of the pharmacist. It will also clarify how accountabilities will be allocated to a superintendent pharmacist and a responsible pharmacist.

This will be an important step forward for the sector in an environment in which clinical services are expected from community pharmacies while the supply function remains the important backbone of the pharmacy service. Pharmacists will spend the majority of their time in the consulting room and will not be able to supervise the running of the pharmacy in the way they traditionally have. It will enable pharmacists to take a role in the primary healthcare multidisciplinary team, making a greater contribution through online and face-to-face meetings. The management of the supply function can be delegated to teams led by pharmacy technicians.

My interpretation of this new model is that superintendent pharmacists will be accountable for systems, processes and quality management in a pharmacy business. The responsible pharmacist will be accountable for standards and quality management in a pharmacy premises on a day-to-day basis. Pharmacy technicians will be accountable for working safely and responsibly within the parameters set by the responsible pharmacist and superintendent pharmacist.

This will require a different type of delegation and approach to supervision by a responsible pharmacist. It will require a move from direct supervision to indirect supervision.