a) That pharmacists be enabled to exercise independent, autonomous prescriptive authority within and related to the individual practitioner’s scope of practice and competence;
b) This should be implemented in a stepwise manner, commencing with the introduction of a common conditions service, with pharmacists provided with prescriptive authority linked to the service and its parameters; and
c) The development, over the coming years, of models of pharmacist prescribing within primary and secondary care settings, recognising the requirements for specific enablers.
a) The inclusion of patients and the public in the implementation, research and review of the recommendations made by the Taskforce.
a) A regulatory framework, including legislation, standards, guidance, and education requirements be developed in tandem by the responsible and accountable entities; and
b) The governance and regulatory framework should recognise the distinct roles of prescribing, administering, and dispensing and provide safe and appropriate controls, structures, and standards, including a nationally agreed written decision framework to effectively operate where such services are carried out, either by one, or more practitioner(s).
a) The appointment of a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at an appropriate senior level and as a full member of the management team of the Department of Health.
a) Educational courses of training underpinned by legislative and regulatory authority must be undertaken in respect of recommendations 1A, 1B and 1C;
b) Continuous Professional Development courses of training will be required for the Common Conditions Service, and independent prescribing will initially require a post-graduate qualification;
c) In circumstances where a pharmacist has undertaken equivalent prescribing training in another jurisdiction or where equivalent prescribing is a component of their core competence and scope of practice at initial registration, a method of assessment and recognition of this training should be developed and applied, referenced against national standards; and
d) An increase in the numbers of university undergraduate pharmacy places to enable the expansion of the role of pharmacists.
a) Operational and resourcing supports, including supporting technology, information communication, and infrastructure, should be facilitated to evolve to streamline administrative processes, optimise interprofessional communication, and facilitate recording, reporting and feedback between professions involved in the care of a particular patient, and to facilitate research. These resources are essential to the timely and safe implementation of these recommendations;
b) Any proposals for expanded or new pharmacist roles are introduced in a planned manner that takes into account strategic workforce planning for the sector and existing workforce needs;
c) The HSE and DoH should align and, in tandem, design and deliver a system to realise the concept of pharmacist prescribing. This must include devising models of care, service delivery and supporting the training to utilise the enhanced capacity and capability;
d) The models of care, service delivery and training must be resourced within the system from a financial, remunerative, contractual, and governance structure perspective, including arrangements for clinical indemnity;
e) Appropriate monitoring and audit processes within all settings, operated and delivered by the responsible and accountable governance and public service entities, should underpin the implementation of these recommendations to ensure that professional accountability, clinical governance, and delivery of improved health outcomes for patients are achieved; and
f) An implementation oversight structure, with appropriate standing, be instituted and resourced to support the sectoral implementation of this policy under the stewardship of an appropriate senior leader such as a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.
a) A centrally coordinated communication plan, cognisant of the distinct roles, accountabilities, and expertise of identified stakeholders should be developed, both to explain the changes linked to the introduction of pharmacist prescribing to pharmacists, other healthcare professionals and members of the public, and to facilitate support for and uptake of pharmacist prescribing; and
b) Regular engagement should occur between and with relevant stakeholders, including pharmacist representatives, representatives of other existing prescribers, and patient advocates, to provide updates and obtain input to inform the implementation of pharmacist prescribing.
a) A programme of funded research should be implemented to monitor the implementation of these recommendations. There should be patient and public involvement in this research;
b) Appropriate robust governance arrangements should be put in place to facilitate, direct, and support this ongoing research:
i) A key enabler to this research is access to appropriate data and the availability of indicator variables that:
(a) a pharmacist extended a 6-month prescription; or
(b) a pharmacist prescribed a medicinal product, among others. It is recommended that steps should be taken to implement such indicator variables into prescribing and dispensing software.
c) The Department of Health should oversee a review of these recommendations at an appropriate interval of their practical implementation into practice to determine whether its goals are being achieved in accordance with good governance policies and procedures.
Highlighted Articles
