In Profession news

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

Pharmacists can now authorise pharmacy support staff to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions, following the long-awaited introduction of new legislation that updates pharmacy’s supervision requirements.

The Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025 amends both the Medicines Act 1968 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to support the expansion of clinical services and enable better skill mix in community pharmacies.

The changes will be introduced in two phases. From yesterday (January 7), pharmacists may authorise pharmacy teams to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions to patients. From December 10, pharmacists will be able to authorise pharmacy technicians to undertake or supervise the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale and supply of medicines.

A one-year transition period has been included to allow the GPhC and RPS to publish supporting standards and guidance.

GPhC chief standards officer, Lynsey Cleland, said: “Following the introduction of this new legislation, we are working to strengthen pharmacy governance, with a focus on ensuring patients and the public continue to receive safe and effective pharmacy care.”

Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the CCA, said the changes to supervision laws provide the basis for “the greatest evolution in pharmacy practice for 90 years”, freeing up pharmacists to spend greater time with patients and deliver more NHS care. 

Allowing patients to collect their prescribed medicines that have already been prepared, checked and bagged up and are ready to go, “will deliver tangible benefits to patients and pharmacy teams”, he added.