The public consultation was launched in March 2022 on a proposal to introduce statutory regulation of the Pharmacy Technician workforce in Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: “I am pleased to begin establishing pharmacy technicians as a regulated healthcare profession in Northern Ireland. This will be a key enabler to enhancing the contribution that pharmacy technicians can make to the delivery of healthcare across all settings. It will allow the regulator to strengthen its role in protecting patients and promoting high standards, thereby enhancing the public’s confidence and trust in pharmacy practice.

“While there are many practical issues to be worked through with stakeholders, and legislative change required, I have now instructed my Department’s officials to develop a detailed project plan to bring about the statutory regulation of pharmacy technicians by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.”

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison said: “I welcome the publication of this consultation report, which is a further step towards meeting our ambitions for the development of the pharmacy workforce as set out in the Pharmacy Workforce Review, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who took time to provide a response.

“Our population is best served by full utilisation of the skillset of all members of the pharmacy team to ensure that people get the most from their medicines every day. Progressing the registration and regulation of pharmacy technicians as healthcare professionals in their own right will support the transformation of pharmacy services by optimising skill mix and will help to maintain public safety and confidence in the pharmacy profession.”

The consultation closed on 20 May 2022 and the Department has now published a consultation summary report on the feedback received.

A link to the consultation report can be found here Introduction of Statutory Regulation of the Pharmacy Technician Workforce in Northern Ireland | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)

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This investment follows extensive discussions between Department of Health, the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI, the representative body for community pharmacy.

This service will help to ensure that people at high risk of harm from poor adherence to their medication will receive tailored support to assist them to take their medicines on time and as prescribed.

The service will be introduced in phases over the coming months to allow a standard approach for new patients who need access to additional support. Phase one will involve patients being discharged from hospital with complex needs relating to their medication.

Speaking during a visit to Dundela Pharmacy, Minister Swann said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this further additional investment of £8m into community pharmacy. This funding will immediately benefit those patients being discharged from hospital with complex medication needs.”

“I am very pleased to also give my support to an agreed three year community pharmacy commissioning plan for 2022-25 which, subject to funding being in place, will provide a coherent structure for the provision of community pharmacy services over the next 36 months.

“The 2022-25 commissioning plan continues to build on the successful commissioning agreements that have been in place over the last two years and ensures that community pharmacies will continue to provide a number of additional services to meet the needs of patients.”

Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at the Department of Health said: “Community pharmacies provide highly trusted and accessible services involving the safe supply of medicines, vaccines and pharmaceutical advice. Today’s announcement will help ensure that services can be developed to provide tailored support to people who need help to take their medicines safely, on time and as prescribed.”

Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Health and Social Care Board said: “Community pharmacies have provided much needed additional services during the response to COVID-19. We very much value how pharmacy staff responded to the needs of our communities and recognise the challenges that were faced.

“Learning from this, we have jointly developed a 3-year commissioning plan which prioritises and seeks to extend clinical services from community pharmacies.”

Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland said: “This is a welcome and much needed investment in community pharmacy. It comes after two years of a pandemic, where we have clearly seen how important community pharmacy is in supporting patients and enabling them to access a vital health service.

“The Minister’s commitment to a new three year commissioning plan gives us more certainty and will mean we can now develop and plan new services.

“In addition, the investment in the medicines adherence service will allow community pharmacists to work directly with hospitals to ensure that patients who are being discharged and in need of specialised medicine support, can now receive that from their local pharmacy. This will have a positive impact in getting patients out of hospital more quickly and will mean they can be cared for at home.”

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MUP came into effect in the Republic on January 1, sparking fears of a surge in cross-border shoppers seeking cheaper alcohol from off-licences in the Province.

Independent retailers believe MUP in Northern Ireland will create a “level playing field” and bring alcohol prices in line with the Republic, Scotland and Wales, where it is already in place, according to The Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) which is one of Europe’s largest employers’ associations, with more than 15,000 independent retail stores across the UK and Ireland..

The Fed’s Republic of Ireland president Martin Mulligan is also in favour of MUP being introduced in Northern Ireland.

He said: “It’s certainly a good thing and would make things equal for retailers on either side of the border. It would be particularly good for those retailers whose stores are on or close to the border.”

Joe Archibald, the Fed’s district president for Northern Ireland, added: “One of the main benefits of MUP for smaller retailers with off-licences is the fact that the big multiples and supermarkets will have to charge the same prices, so they will no longer be able to undercut independents by selling cheaper alcohol as loss leaders. This should level things up and give everyone a fair crack of the whip.”

Health minister Robin Swann announced the consultation on February 22, saying: “The evidence is quite clear that price is a key factor in driving alcohol-related harm. Alcohol is 74 per cent more affordable now than it was 30 years ago, and the availability of alcohol at very low prices is encouraging excessive and, most importantly, harmful consumption.

“Now I want to hear the views of the public and I would urge everyone to have their say and respond to this consultation.”

The consultation document is available online at Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk), with a closing date of May 17.

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The goal is to reduce high rates of alcohol specific deaths in Northern Ireland and reduce alcohol-related harms which he said cost the economy up to .

“I made a commitment that I would hold a public consultation on the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for Alcohol in Northern Ireland within a year of the launch of the new Substance Use Strategy,” Mr Swann said.

“I launched our new substance use strategy on 7 September 2021 and today I make good on my promise and launch this public consultation so that the people of Northern Ireland can have their say on this important policy.

“For many years now alcohol has been our drug of choice in Northern Ireland and this is reflected in our high rates of alcohol specific deaths. I believe that the introduction of MUP will have a direct impact and help to reduce the number of these deaths over time.

“I have been greatly encouraged by the positive evidence coming out about the introduction of MUP within Scotland and firmly believe that its introduction here has the potential to be a key population-level health measure to address the harms related to alcohol consumption and help to prevent individuals coming to harm in the first place.”

Minister Swann continued: “Research has shown that the full social cost to the Northern Ireland economy of alcohol-related harm could be as high as £900m per year, with up to £250m directly borne by the Health sector alone and a further £383m borne by the Justice sector. However, this financial burden can never fully describe the incalculable impact that alcohol related harm has on our Society.

“The evidence is quite clear that price is a key factor in driving alcohol-related harm. Alcohol is 74% more affordable now than it was 30 years ago, and the availability of alcohol at very low prices is encouraging excessive and, most importantly, harmful consumption.

“Now I want to hear the views of the public and I would urge everyone to have their say and respond to this consultation.”

The consultation document is available on-line Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk).

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