The Pharmaceutical Society NI has welcomed the publication by the Department of Health and Social Care of the public consultation, Regulating healthcare professionals, protecting the public, describing it as an opportunity for stakeholders to influence the way in which the regulation of healthcare professionals can be made more flexible, agile and fit to protect the public into the future.
Speaking about the launch of the public consultation, Mr Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said:
“This consultation provides an opportunity to shape the reform of the regulation of healthcare professionals to make it better suited to a more diverse and evolving healthcare system and to keep protection of the public at the forefront.
“At present, significant parts of the healthcare regulators’ legislation are out of date and unhelpfully rigid. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of being able to work quickly and flexibly with local, informed partners to deliver for patient safety.
“By responding to this consultation, you will have an opportunity to shape consistent and appropriate powers, alongside greater flexibility in how to use them, coupled with increased local accountability.
“The Pharmaceutical Society NI will be giving the detailed proposals careful consideration before making a response. We encourage all pharmacists and stakeholder groups to do the same as the outcome of this consultation will likely reform the way pharmacists are regulated in Northern Ireland in the future.”