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PDA calls on members to share their views on changes to registration fees
Wed 12th February 2025
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are consulting separately on proposed changes to registration fees for pharmacists. The payment of fees is mandatory to practice as a pharmacist.
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Scotland Covid-19 Inquiry: My day in court for the PDA
Thu 7th November 2024
Earlier this year, PDA Head of Policy for Scotland, Maurice Hickey spoke at the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry to share the experiences of working pharmacists during the pandemic. Here, he discusses his impact report and why he felt it was so important to speak at the inquiry.
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PDA issues advisory information on the legal dispensing of methadone via instalment prescriptions
Wed 28th August 2024
A recent Coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths report has highlighted the actions of a responsible pharmacist as being a contributory factor to a patient's death. Their actions did not comply with controlled drug legislation. In response to this, the PDA is issuing an advisory note on the legal dispensing of methadone via instalment prescriptions.
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PDA publishes summary of the Pharmacy Technicians Report
Sun 5th May 2024
The PDA has launched its summary of the PDA Pharmacy Technicians Report for members. The summary outlines the key points and recommendations made in 2019.
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PDA cannot support DiCE best practice guidance for online prescribing of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management in adults
Fri 3rd May 2024
The PDA is unable to recommend reliance upon the guidance published by the Digital Clinical Excellence (DiCE) as it conflicts with an expert report commissioned by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The report is currently being used to prosecute significant numbers of pharmacist prescribers who use a questionnaire-based model of consultation.
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PDA calls on members to share their views on the role of a DPP
Tue 2nd April 2024
The PDA has launched a survey to ask pharmacist independent prescribers about their views on Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs). The responses will support the PDA’s policies and stakeholder engagement activities regarding independent prescribers.
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PDA responds to DHSC consultation on pharmacy supervision
Tue 5th March 2024
The PDA has long campaigned against any introduction of remote supervision and believes that only a pharmacy with a physically present pharmacist can properly support the safety and care of patients, so it was vital that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) proposals were carefully considered.
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PDA cannot support the Department of Health and Social Care proposal for the use of patient group directions by pharmacy technicians
Fri 13th October 2023
The PDA recently responded to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) consultation on the proposal to enable registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under a patient group direction (PGD).
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Right to Strike update: Government’s Strikes Bill becomes law
Thu 3rd August 2023
The Westminster government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill has now been passed and will become law, despite the opposition of trade unions and the efforts of many members of the House of Lords to challenge it.
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The serious threat of AMR and how the PDA is helping in Ukraine
Sat 22nd July 2023
Last week, the PDA hosted a member exclusive event to detail some of its recent work in the Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) field. PDA Policy Officer, Tasnim Khan was joined by Specialist Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) pharmacist, Bee Yean Ng as they discussed the lessons learnt from Ukraine on managing the risk of AMR.