Responsible pharmacist regulations came into effect on 1st October 2009. These regulations replaced the guidelines governing "personal control" of a pharmacy by a pharmacist - there must now be a responsible pharmacist in charge of each registered pharmacy.
Who is the Responsible Pharmacist?
This is the pharmacist appointed by the employer who is responsible for securing safe and effective running of the pharmacy. This responsibility continues during periods of absence of the responsible pharmacist.
If there is more than one pharmacist working at the same time in the pharmacy only one may be the responsible pharmacist.
A pharmacist cannot be responsible for more than one pharmacy at any one time.
No additional training is required to be a responsible pharmacist providing you are working within an area in which you are professionally competent
What are the responsibilities?
Display a notice
It must state:
Your name, your registration number and the fact that you are in charge of the pharmacy.
If you are absent the notice should remain in place but it should be amended if the responsible pharmacist changes throughout the day.
Complete the Pharmacy Record
The record may be in electronic or paper form and meets the legal requirements. The record should include:
- Your name
- Registration number
- Date and time at which you become the responsible pharmacist
- Date and time at which you stop being the responsible pharmacist
- If you are absent from the pharmacy (up to 2 hours in a 24 hour period is permissible), the date and time of the absence and the time at which you return
Please consult your PMR provider as electronic templates are now available.
The superintendent pharmacist or pharmacy owner must keep the record for 5 years.
Download the Useful Links
Useful links that examine the responsible pharmacist regulations in more detail are provided below. These include regulations relating to locum pharmacists, pharmacy owners, superintendent pharmacists and chief pharmacists.
FAQs and Case Studies
These can both be accessed at http://www.responsiblepharmacist.org
