Professionalism

Question 1

Define: Pharmacist

Answer 1

A person who is professionally qualified to prepare and dispense medicinal drugs.
( also provides advice)

Question 2

1) Who can call themselves a pharmacist?

2) And what are the qualification requirements? (3)

Answer 2

1) it is an offence for anyone to use the title unless they are registered, as it is a protected title.

2) - MPharm - successful completion of GPhC accredited masters degree.
- Completion of one years pre-registration training , you must build up a portfolio of evidence whilst being observed at work.
- Successful completion of the GPhC’s registration assessment (3 goes) and meeting the fitness to practice for registration.

Question 3

What are the requirements to register as a pharmacist? (4)

Answer 3

1) appropriately qualified
2) fitness to practice not impaired
3) other educational and training requirements as specified by the registrar.
- MPharm, Pre-reg, GPHC exam.
4) paid the correct registration fee £240

Question 4

Describe the roles of a community pharmacist (6)

Answer 4

1) responsible for all aspects of medicines storage and supply
2) provide information on the sale of over the counter medications and other general health issues
3) clinically check prescriptions
4) oversee safe dispensing processes
5) counsel patients on correct medication use
6) advise GP on appropriate prescribing in practices

Question 5

Are pharmacists able to prescribe anything?

Answer 5

No. Pharmacist independent prescribers may prescribe for any condition within their competence.

Question 6

Describe the role of an industrial pharmacist? (6)

Answer 6

1) vital role in the research and the development of new medicines
2) work in multidisciplinary teams alongside scientists to identify compounds which may become the next medicine
3) ensure the safety and quality of medicines
4) use latest technology and methods to develop new medicines
5) involved in quality checking process as a qualified person-sign batch
6) ensure leaflets and adverts are in line with good practice and legal recommendations

Question 7

Define the term professional

Answer 7

1) a person engaged or qualified in a profession

Question 8

Describe the role of a hospital pharmacist (5)

Answer 8

1) responsible for all aspects of medicines storage and supply
2) works with medical and nursing staff to ensure patients receive most appropriate treatment (work on wards)
3) can further their clinical education with diplomas to specialise in a particular field (cancer)
4) can work in medicines information and manufacturing
5) focus on clinical care of patients instead of running of dispensaries

Question 9

Name the TWO professional and regulatory bodies the Royal pharmaceutical society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has now split into.

Answer 9

Professional body- Royal pharmaceutical society (RPS)

Regulatory body- General pharmaceutical council (GPhC)

Question 10

1) Outline what pharmacy professionalism means

2) Give some examples of professional qualities (7)

Answer 10

1) a set of values, behaviours and relationships that underpin the trust the public has in pharmacists.

Examples include:

• appropriate accountability
• compassion
• excellence and continuous improvement
• honour and integrity
• professional judgement
• respect for other patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals
• working in partnership with patients, doctors and the wider healthcare team in the patients/ publics best interest.

Question 11

1) Define the term profession

2) How can a profession be described (4)

Answer 11

1) A paid occupation, involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.

2) Can be described as:
- an occupation that is recognised by the public as a profession
- an occupation that has a recognised representative professional body
- an occupation that benefits from professional standards and codes of conduct
- regulated to ensure the maintenance of standards and codes of conduct.

Question 12

Describe what the General pharmaceutical council does. (3)

Answer 12

1) the regulatory body governing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises.
2) their role is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, the public and of all those who use pharmacy
services.
3) has powers and responsibilities for the registration of pharmacy premises and enforcing provisions under the medicines act 1968+ poisons act 1972

Question 13

Outline the core functions of the GPhC (7)

Answer 13

1) protect public safety - fitness to practice
2) set standards for education and training
4) register pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and set standards of conduct and performance
5) set standards which must be met by owners and superintendents of registered pharmacies
6) register pharmacies which meet standards and inspect them to check they continue to do so
7) take action when standards are not met.

Question 14

Outline the three statutory and three non-statutory committees of the GPhC. (3,3)

Answer 14

Statutory committees: (formal law) carry out the regulatory functions of investigating and deciding on registrants fitness to practice, and conducting registration appeals.

1) investigating committee
2) fitness to practice committee
3) appeals committee

Non-statutory committees : (common law)

1) audit and risk committee
2) remuneration committee
3) appointments committee

Question 15

Explain what fitness to practice means (3)

Answer 15

1) a pharmacy professional is considered fit to practice when they can demonstrate: the skills, the knowledge, the character, the health
2) required to do their job safely and effectively
3) fitness to practice is a persons suitability to be on the register without restrictions.

Question 16

How often does a FTP declaration need to be completed and what should it contain. (3)

Answer 16

1) all registrants to the pharmacy register are required to complete a fitness to practice declaration ( done annually)
2) the declaration requires the registrant to inform the GPhC if there is any reason why their fitness to practice may be impaired
3) registrants are also required to complete CPD - demonstrating their commitment to keeping up to date with developments in practice.

Question 17

1) Explain how a pharmacy professionals fitness to practice can be impaired. (4)
2) What are registrants required to do if their status changes?
3) Outline what the GPhC can do if a pharmacy professional is found to be impaired. (4)

Answer 17

1) A pharmacy professionals fitness to practice can be impaired for a number of reasons:
- misconduct
- lack of competence
- ill health
- convections or criminal offences

2) Registrants are required to inform the GPhC within 7 days if their status changes at any point during the year.

3) Repercussions GPhC can:
i) issue a warning to the pharmacy professional
ii) impose conditions on the pharmacy professionals practice
iii) suspend the pharmacy professional from the register
iv) remove the pharmacy professional from the register.

Question 18

1) Outline what the Royal pharmaceutical society is

2) What do they do? (5)

Answer 18

1) The dedicated professional body for pharmacists in England, Wales and Scotland.

2i) help promote the profession
ii) produce practice guidance
iii) provide support (e.g for CPD)
iv) provide networking (local practice forums)
v) publish medicines, ethics and practice (MEP) guide.

Question 19

1) What is the importance of raising concerns?

2) What are the types of concerns that may arise? (4, 4)

Answer 19

1) Every pharmacy professional has duty to raise any concerns about individuals, actions or circumstances that may be unacceptable and that could result in risks to patient and public safety.

2) May have concerns:
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Pharmacy owners
- Managers and employees

It can include concerns about:

• Behaviours
• Competency
• Working environment
• Any actions which could comprise patient safety