Roles within the pharmacy

Question 1

What are the roles of the responsible pharmacist (6)

Answer 1

1. in charge of a registered pharmacy as the ‘responsible pharmacist’(RP).
2. If there are two pharmacists working in the same pharmacy at the same time, only one can be the RP.
3. ensuring all necessary standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place and reviewed, to maintain the safe and effective operation of the pharmacy business in terms of sale and supply of medicinal products.
4. By law, the RP can only be absent from the registered pharmacy premises for a maximum of**two hours duringthe pharmacy’s business hours between midnight and midnight. This includes delivering additional services away from the pharmacy, for example, at a nursing home. If there is more than one RP, the total period of absence for all the RPs must not exceed two hours.
5. The RP must remain contactable with the pharmacy staff during their absence and must also be able to return to work within a reasonable time if need be.
6. If they can not remain contactable and return with reasonable promptness, they must arrange for another pharmacist to, be contactable and available to provide advice (this does not need to be another responsible pharmacist).

Question 2

What are the responsible pharmacist SOPs (4)

Answer 2

1. Operating in the absence of the responsible pharmacist
2. The roles and responsibilities of pharmacy staff
3. Provision of advice by pharmacy staff who are not pharmacists
4. Dealing with an incident

Question 3

What can’t be handed out of the RP is absent and there is no second pharmacist (5)

Answer 3

1. GLS sale/supply (on prescription)
2. P sale/supply
3. POM sale/supply
4. Handing out a bagged, checked prescription
5. Handing dispensed prescriptions to a delivery driver

Question 4

What is a superintendent pharmacist/Pharmacy owner (3)

Answer 4

1. Unless the pharmacy owner is a sole trader, all pharmacies which are a limited company or a partnership must have an appointed superintendent pharmacist, who is responsible for the overall running of the pharmacy business.
2. This can be the pharmacy owner if they are a pharmacist themselves, otherwise, the owner must employ a pharmacist to take on this role.
3. Only one superintendent is employed per pharmacy business, so if the business has a group of pharmacies, only one pharmacist can take on this responsibility for all the pharmacies in the group.

Question 5

What are the roles of a superintendent pharmacist/Pharmacy owner (2)

Answer 5

1. ensure policies and SOPs are in place to maintain the safe and effective running of the pharmacy.
2. They must ensure the pharmacy follows all the legal and ethical obligations set by the GPhC.

Question 6

What are the roles of a medicines counter assistant (9)

Answer 6

1. often the first person to speak to the customer.
2. It is important that you are professional, able to communicate clearly and provide the appropriate information that customers require.
3. involved in the sale of over the counter (OTC) medicines
4. provision of advice on minor ailments and must also know when referral to the pharmacist is required.
5. have an understanding of the laws relating to the sale of medicines
6. understanding of the legal classification of medicines
7. understanding of the processes and procedures involved with the supply of OTC medicines to the public in the pharmacy.
8. identifying patients with warning signs and symptoms that require referral to the pharmacist.
9. You must also understand how to receive and hand out prescriptions correctly.

Question 7

What is the role of dispensary or pharmacy assistants (3)

Answer 7

1. usually involved in the dispensing process and managing dispensary stock.
2. They can also undertake tasks such as sale of OTC medicines (if they have successfully completed a medicines counter assistant course) and providing advice to customers where appropriate.
3. Dispensary assistants must be trained to meet the training requirements outlined by the GPhC.

Question 8

What places do pharmacy technicians work (6)

Answer 8

1. community pharmacy
2. hospitals
3. health centres
4. prisons
5. the armed forces
6. in the pharmaceutical industry.

Question 9

What is the role of pharmacy technicians (8)

Answer 9

1. They support the pharmacist in dispensing prescriptions and managing the dispensary.
2. They undertake tasks within the dispensary, taking on various roles
3. as the sale of OTC medicines
4. dispensing prescriptions
5. labelling medicines
6. stock control
7. maintaining records.
8. Pharmacy technicians must be registered with the GPhC and must have completed a GPhC accredited course.

Question 10

What is the role of Accuracy checking technicians (ACT)/Accuracy checkers (4)

Answer 10

1. Experienced pharmacy technicians can undertake additional training to become an accuracy checking technician.
2. They are able to do the final accuracy check on dispensed medicines to ensure the items dispensed and the labels printed match the prescription for each patient.
3. The pharmacist must always first check the prescription clinically and legally to make sure it is safe and appropriate for the patient before an accuracy checker can carry out the final check.
4. Dispensing assistants who are not registered technicians may have also completed an additional qualification to be an accuracy checker.