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Council publishes revised Guidance for Maintaining Clear Sexual Boundaries with Patients and Carers for Northern Ireland Pharmacists
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published updated Guidance on 'Maintaining Clear Sexual Boundaries with Patients and Carers for Pharmacists in Northern Ireland. The work forms part of the regulator's ongoing review of its Standards and Guidance…
Regulators unite to support reflective practitioners across healthcare
The leaders of nine healthcare regulators have joined forces to stress the benefits and importance of good reflection among professionals in the healthcare sector.
The chief executives have signed a joint statement – Benefits of becoming a reflective practitioner…
Council publishes revised Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) Guidance for Pharmacists
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published updated Guidance on Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) for Pharmacists in Northern Ireland. The work forms part of the regulator's ongoing review of its Standards and Guidance documents, which support pharmacists…
PSA Review published
The Professional Standards Authority publishes its review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland's performance for 2017/18
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its annual performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, which can be found here. The…
The Appointment of New Members of Council
The Department of Health has announced the appointments of a Vice President, a Lay Member and four Registrant Members to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. Mr Jonathan Patton is appointed as Vice President, Mrs Carol Moore…
Consultation on Initial Education and Training Standards for Pharmacists
Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the Pharmaceutical Society NI and GPhC collaborate substantively in terms of educational functions. In particular, and to ensure that there is a consistent approach to undergraduate pharmacy education throughout the UK, the Pharmaceutical Society…
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI publishes new Indicative Sanctions Guidance
As the Statutory Regulator for pharmacists in Northern Ireland we have a duty to ensure that everyone on our register is able to practise safely (fitness to practise) – we achieve this by having rigorous entry procedures to the…
The latest edition of the Regulatory Update newsletter is now available. In this edition Dr Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, outlines our plans for 2019. We introduce our new Policy, Standards and Communications Team and provide a reminder…
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, approved the Annual Report for the year 2017-18, at its meeting on Tuesday 18 September. This Report has been laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday 25…
Pharmacists removed for non payment of fees
The following list contains the names of those pharmacists who were removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland due to non-payment of fees for the year 2018-19. Removal was effective from 02 September 2018 and is processed…
Council Launches Public Consultation on new Indicative Sanctions Guidance
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (the Council) has launched an 8-week public consultation on new Indicative Sanctions Guidance for its Statutory Committee and is seeking responses from the public, pharmacists and interested stakeholders.
Commenting on the launch of…
Pharmacists removed from the Register for non-compliance with CPD
The following list details the names of those Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2017-18. Removal is effective…
Rebalancing Medicines Legislation and Professional Regulation Event
On Tuesday 21 August at 7pm, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is holding an information evening to explain the recently launched consultation on Rebalancing Medicine Legislation and Regulations. In conjunction with the Departments of Health, Belfast and London,…
Consultations on Dispensing Errors and Responsible and Superintendent Pharmacists Launched
As an outcome of the work of the Rebalancing Medicines Legislation and Pharmacy Regulation Programme Board, the Department of Health and Social Care (London) has launched two UK wide consultations on behalf of the 4 UK health departments.
The consultations…
Council approves new Premises Standards for registered pharmacies in Northern Ireland
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved new Premises Standards for implementation in registered pharmacies in Northern Ireland at its Council meeting on Tuesday 05 June 2018.
In a statement the President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim…
GDPR – Privacy Statement
To fulfil our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), the Pharmaceutical Society NI has published a revised Privacy Statement. This statement details the legal basis replied upon in the collection and processing of data by the Pharmaceutical Society NI, for…
CPD Portal Opens for 2017/18
The portal for online CPD submission is now open, and will remain open until 31 May 2018 (mid-night). Completed cycle entries can now be transferred into your CPD portfolio for 2017/18 and submitted any time during this two-month period.
Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said: We welcome the recent announcement by Jeremy Hunt in relation to improving the safety of medicines. The issues described are not confined to England and the devolved administrations are also…
President welcomes 2017 PSA Performance Review.
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland as part of its annual review of the nine statutory health regulators across the UK. The performance review assesses whether each regulator…
President welcomes publication of consultation report
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, today (6/11/17) welcomed the publication by the Department of Health of the initial findings of the Consultation on the Future of Pharmacy Regulation in Northern Ireland.
In a statement Dr…
Consultation on Premises Standards
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched an eight week consultation on draft Premises Standards, closing at 12 noon on Monday 27 November 2017. In preparation for commencement of new legislation, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is proposing…
President welcomes approval of IP regulations
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone, has welcomed the introduction of new Regulations in relation to the annotation of pharmacists as Independent Prescribers.
Speaking today Dr Livingstone said, "Since identifying that specific regulations were not in…
Council approves Annual Report 2016-17
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, approved the Annual Report for the year 2016-17, at its meeting on Thursday 14 September. This Report has been laid, as required, in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly and…
The following individuals have been removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland for non payment of fees, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.
Removal is effective from 1 September 2017 (inclusive).
Advice on Conflicts of Interest.
Today, along with the CEOs of the other 8 healthcare regulators, Trevor Patterson signed a Joint Statement containing advice for healthcare registrants on dealing with conflicts of interest.
The statement sets out how health professionals should be aware of…
Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance relating to the CPD year 2016-17. Removal is effective from 8 August 2017 (Inclusive) and is processed…
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland recruiting Clinical Advisers
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is looking to appoint a minimum of eight experienced clinical advisers, with a range of expertise to its Clinical Advisers List. Clinical advisers will provide advice to Fitness to Practise Committees on health related issues.
Update on Independent Prescribers Regulations
Following the closure of the Consultation in January on the proposed new Regulations for Independent and Supplementary Prescribers, draft Regulations have been passed to the Department of Health for approval and completion of the NI Assembly processes.
We recognise that…
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland meets all Standards of Good Regulation
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its performance review of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland as part of its annual review of the nine statutory health and social care regulators across the UK. The performance review assesses…
Portal OPEN TO ONLINE CPD Submission
The portal to online submission is now open and anyone with a completed CPD portfolio can submit it online. The portal remains open until 31 May 2017(mid-night) and portfolios can be submitted any time during…
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is holding two meetings in relation to the changes being proposed in Pharmacy Premise Standards. These events are primarily for Pharmacy Owners and Superintendents, to provide them with an insight into, and an understanding of, the forthcoming draft…
Premises Registration 2017
Premise registration for 2017 is now being processed. Details of how to register a premise for the coming year can be found on the Registration page of this website by clicking here
Note: Section 75 of the Medicines Act…
Consultation on Pharmacist Prescribers Regulations 2017
Following our recent communication to all Independent Prescribers, the Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched a consultation on proposals for amendment to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994, in respect of "Pharmacist Prescriber" annotations. This is an…
In accordance with the legislation governing the Pharmaceutical Society of NI, the Annual Report for 2015-16 was laid today, (19 September 2016) in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The report can be viewed at www.psni.org.uk/publications/annual-reports-2/. The report will be presented at…
Letter to Independent Prescribers
Pharmacist Independent Prescribers (IPs) in Northern Ireland have been sent a letter today (12 Sept 2016) informing them of an issue that has been identified in relation to the annotation of IPs on the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in…
Pharmacists removed from the Register for non payment of fees
Please see below the list of those pharmacists who have been removed from the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland (and who at the date of this notice remain unregistered) due to non-payment of fees for the year 2016-17.
The following Pharmacists have been removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the direction of the Registrar due to CPD Statutory Non-compliance, relating to the CPD year 2015-16. Removal is effective from 4 August 2016…
Positive response to online retention drive
As of the 15 June 2016, 83.5% of registrants had paid their retention fee online, compared to 40% last year. This is an extremely positive response to the organisation's drive to get registrants to switch to the online system.
Heading for record year of CPD compliance
Carrying out Continued Professional Development (CPD) is crucial for professionals to maintain high standards of practice, skills development and the delivery of safe services to the public and 2015/16 looks set to be a record year for pharmacists complying…
Council Publishes Consultation Response
At its Council meeting of 5 July 2016, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI agreed that their response to the Department of Health's (NI) consultation "the Future of Pharmacy Regulation in Northern Ireland" should be published. Below is a…
Presentation to Retiring Council Members
On Thursday 21 April, the President, Dr Jim Livingstone, presented Dr Lisa Byers and Mrs Brenda Maitland with a small gift to mark their retirement form the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI. Commenting on the occasion, Dr Livingstone said…
Individual Retention 2016
All Pharmacists wishing to remain on the Register of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI must complete the retention process by 1 June 2016.
This year we are encouraging registrants to complete the process using our on-line retention system which can be…
Pharmacist Pre-registration lead job vacancy
In order to better meet the changing needs of public protection by the regulation of pharmacy in Northern Ireland the Pharmaceutical Society NI are seeking to recruit a "pharmacist pre-registration lead" to work as part of a small team. Further details,…
Call for new Council Members
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is seeking to appoint six Council Members to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (five registered persons and one lay member). To be appointed with effect from 1 June 2016.
Launch of the New Code
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has launched its new Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland).
At a well-attended launch event on Tuesday 9 February the President Dr Jim Livingstone said "the new Code seeks…
Consultation on fees for 2016/17
In the letter to registrants of 17 September 2015 the President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI indicated that a fees consultation would be launched for the registration year 2016/17.
Today the Pharmaceutical Society NI is launching…
Joint statement on supporting patients making informed choices.
Following recent claims that patients and the public have been inappropriately influenced by health professionals when making decisions about where they access services, including flu vaccinations and dispensing of prescriptions, the General Medical Council (GMC), General Pharmaceutical Council…
Temporary CPD record forms
During the period when the CPD portal is not open, we are providing two forms on which CPD cycles can be recorded.
These forms are in Word and details can be recorded and saved on these forms. Once the portal is up…
Pharmaceutical Society NI publishes its Annual Report 2014/15
Following the official laying of the Pharmaceutical Society NI's Annual report with the Northern Ireland Assembly, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Dr Jim Livingstone said: "I was absolutely delighted to be appointed President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI…
President addresses historical anomalies in Fees Regulations
Following the meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, held on 14 September 2015, President of the Council, Dr. Jim Livingstone said: "Each year we raise money through fees to fund operations and services in…
Annual PSA Audit of all regulators published
The annual Professional Standards Authority (PSA) review of all healthcare regulators was published on 26 June 2015. This report details the Authority's review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI for the year 2014. The report can be accessed via the PAS's…
The following registrant pharmacists have been removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the directive of the Registrar due to non-compliance with their statutory CPD requirements relating to the CPD year 2014-15. Removal is effective from…
Changes to the law for selling medicines online
From 1 July 2015 online sellers of medicines to the general public (including pharmacies) need to be registered in the UK with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) if established in the UK and to be on…
Health and Social Care Regulators renew commitment to work together to keep people safe
Health and Social Care Regulators from across the UK held an information and networking event at Parliament Buildings in Stormont on Tuesday 2 June. The event focused on how health and social care regulators, Government…
Following the consultation on the proposals for standards on Monitored Dosage Systems the Council decided not to issue formal standards. However, the Council has asked the Registrar to issue a regulatory statement. The…
CPD Submission Portal Opens Today
Continuing Professional Development has been a statutory requirement for registration with the Pharmaceutical Society NI since 1 June 2013. To comply with this requirement all pharmacist registrants must submit a compliant CPD portfolio, on an annual basis, before the…
Regulator seeks views on new Code of Conduct for Pharmacists
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland today launched a consultation on a new Code of Conduct for all pharmacists in Northern Ireland to replace its previous Code of Ethics.
New proposals on pharmacy dispensing errors and standards
The proposals on pharmacy dispensing errors and standards would give a new defence against criminal prosecution for pharmacy professionals if they make an inadvertent dispensing error. The four Departments of Health have launched a consultation into the proposals. It will run until…
Message from the President of the Pharmaceutical Society
Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI, commenting on his recent appointment said "It is a great honour and privilege, and not least a unique challenge to be the first non-pharmacist to be ap-pointed as President…
Annual Premises Rentention for 2015
All annual retention forms for registered premises have been mailed today, 28th Nov 2014.
Forms and fees, for retention on the premises register, must be with the Pharmaceutical Society NI by 1 January 2015
Pre-registration e-portfolio wins National Award
Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, today congratulated Mr Peter McKee, the organisation's Pre-Registration Lead, and all the other staff involved in creating and developing the pre-registration e-portfolio, which won the Bronze award at…
Regulators' joint statement on duty of Candour
The Chief Executives of 8 healthcare regulators today published a joint statement on the professional duty of Candour: www.psni.org.uk/publications/regulatory-correspondence/. This statement highlights the Pharmaceutical Society NI's commitment to place patient safety at the centre…
Take part in the draft fees consultation
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a 3 month consultation on the level of the Annual retention and other associated fees for registrants for the years commencing 1st June 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Pharmaceutical Society NI publishes 2013-14 Annual Report
The report, which was laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly on 17th September, reflects on the first complete year of activity under the new Council and sets out its achievements in the last year and aspirations for 2014/15. You…
See below list of those pharmacists who were removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland (and who at the date of this notice remain unregistered) due to non-payment of fees for the…
The following pharmacists were removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland for non-compliance with the CPD requirements for the year 2013-14.Removal is effective from 16 August 2014 (Inclusive).
Consultation on Standards for the provision of MDS launched
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is inviting comments on draft Standards for the provision of Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS). These Standards outline the professional and legal responsibilities pharmacists have with respect to the provision of MDS to patients.
As a healthcare…
Policy on the publication of fitness to practise information launched
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a policy setting out how it will publish and disclose information relating to the fitness to practise of pharmacist registrants. This policy replaces the interim policy which has been in…
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety NI, has launched a recruitment exercise seeking new lay and registrant members for the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI.
Details and application forms can be found at Online application…
Information on professional indemnity cover for pharmacists
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has published new Guidance on the statutory requirement to hold appropriate indemnity cover and what this means for our registrants. This Guidance has been produced following a consultation which closed in April 2014….
Final CPD Framework Published
The final CPD framework has been published today following a consultation on the concluding part of the CPD framework and final agreement by Council.
This composite framework brings together the previously published CPD framework part…
CPD Portal Opens
Since 1 June 2013, Continuing Professional Development has been a statutory requirement for registration with the Pharmaceutical Society NI. This means that all pharmacist registrants must submit a CPD portfolio on or before 31 May 2014 in…
Consultation on Guidance for professional indemnity cover and registration
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is inviting comments on draft guidance for registrants on the statutory requirement to have appropriate indemnity cover as a condition of registration. This means that in order to be registered with the Pharmaceutical…
President Steps Down
At its January meeting (27/1/14) the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI noted, with regret, the resignation of Ms Jacqui Dougan MPSNI as member of Council and President, for personal and private reasons.
Vice President Garry McKenna said "Since the…
Today (9/1/14), the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI published the learnings from five Fitness to Practise cases that were held in 2013. Every pharmacist, pre registration pharmacist and student studying pharmacy are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these…
Annual premises retention begins
On Thursday 28th November, all premises retention forms for the year 2014 were issued to all registered pharmacies. These forms and the associated retention fee must be returned by 1st January 2014.
Should any pharmacy not receive their notification and/or…
Consultation on CPD Framework part 2 is launched
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has today launched a consultation on the concluding part of the CPD framework. We are seeking views on how we will manage applications for extenuating circumstances and procedures relating to restoration to…
Pharmaceutical Society NI responds to Francis Report.
At the Council meeting held on 26th September the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI approved its formal response and action plan in relation to the Francis Report and the subsequent Berwick Report.
Speaking after the Council meeting President Ms…
Following the official laying of the Pharmaceutical Society NI's Annual report with the Northern Ireland Assembly, President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Ms Jacqui Dougan said: "When the new Pharmacy Order came into effect last October, one of the…
Registrants removed by instruction of Council on 2nd September 2013
The following were Pharmacists removed from the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists in Northern Ireland on the instruction of the Council, due to the Non-payment of fees relating to the membership year 2013-14. Please click here to see the list…
Breach of the Data Protection Act
The Pharmaceutical Society has written to members affected by a breach of its Data Protection procedures. A small number of registrants have been notified of a breach of its Data Protection Procedures where documents intended for shredding were inadvertently…
Pharmaceutical Society NI welcomes the publication of the Professional Standards Authority annual report.
The Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI today welcomed the publication of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) annual independent review into the activities of the nine healthcare regulators including the Pharmaceutical Society NI.*
Launch of the corporate strategy, "A New Era 2013-16"
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Ms Jacqui Dougan this morning launched the organisation's Corporate Strategy "A New Era 2013-16"(click on the link to see a copy). Speaking before the launch Ms Dougan said "Since assuming office last…
Launch of Continuing Professional Development Framework
From 1 June 2013, all pharmacists will have a legal obligation to undertake and record Continuing Professional Development activity (CPD) in order to maintain registration as a pharmacy professional in Northern Ireland. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process…
CPD – the requirements for June 2013
As we approach the conclusion of the CPD year 2012-13, I would like to clarify the arrangements for CPD submission/assessment for June 2013.
For the CPD year (1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013) CPD submission and assessment will be…
Pharmacist Prescribing Standards 2013
New Standards for pharmacist prescribers have been issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland today.It replaces the previous edition published in 2009 and follows a public consultation held in December 2012.
The revised Standards and Guidance provides more detailed…
FIP Congress 2013 – Dublin
The Pharmaceutical Society NI is pleased to promote, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress. In 2013 FIP will host its Annual Congress in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and its Irish partners in Dublin.
In a constantly…
E-cigarettes – letter form Registrar and Chair of Standards Committee
Today, the Registrar and the Chair of the Standards Committee published a letter relating to e-cigarettes. The key paragraph in the correspondence make the following point:- "In the standard of the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists in Northern…
Launch of revised Raising Concerns Regulatory Guidance
In light of the release of the Francis Report into the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust the Pharmaceutical Society NI believes it is timely to launch and reiterate our guidance on Raising Concerns. This guidance underlines the duty of pharmacists to…
Consultation on Discloure of Fitness to Practise Information
What information should you know and have access to about your local pharmacist and their fitness to practise? This is the key question the Pharmaceutical Society NI is asking, please give us your views. Today we are launching a…
Congratulations to Prof Martin Bradley OBE
At the recent Council meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society NI , the President and members congratulated Prof Martin Bradley on being awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List. Prof Bradley, was, until April 2012, the Chief Nursing Officer of…
A New Era for the PSNI
From 1st October 2012, the Pharmaceutical Society NI embarks on a new era, as new legislation in the form of the Pharmacy (NI) Order 1976 (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 comes into operation, bringing additional fitness to practise sanctions, statutory…
Consultation Information Evenings
In preparation for the introducton of Statutory Continuing Professional Develoment in June 2013, the Pharmaceutical Society NI is required to develop and consult on a CPD Framework which details the CPD processes to be operated for assessment, mitigation, remediation and…
Key Information regarding CPD Framework Consultation
With the enactment of new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) regulations in June 2013, CPD is set to become a statutory requirement of registration. This means that in future, CPD will be required to be undertaken by all registrants to…
New Fitness to Practise Sanctions
With the introduction of the new legislation in October 2012, the Fitness to Practise process has been restructured and the Committees (the Statutory and Scrutiny Committees) have been given new powers.
Speaking about the new powers Brendan Kerr, Registrar, said…
What We Will Disclose
Under the new legislation which came into effect on1st October 2012, the Pharmaceutical Society NI and the Registrar are legally obliged to make available to the public, employers and other pharmacists, a registrant's fitness to practise status.
To enable the…