Public Consultations
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) carries out regular public consultations so that the opinion and input of our stakeholders is considered in the work we are undertaking.
The PSI, as the pharmacy regulator, acts to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of patients and the public. Our vision is to ensure that pharmacy services are delivered in a competent, professional and ethical manner and in an appropriate environment, to the highest standards of quality care and best practice.
Public Consultation on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Themes for Pharmaceutical Assistants
Introduction
Pharmaceutical assistants may work in conjunction with a pharmacist in the sale and supply of medicines, or carry out the activities of a pharmacist during their temporary absence from the pharmacy. Pharmaceutical assistants must be registered with the PSI in order to practise in Ireland.
The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 introduces a new requirement for PSI to ensure that pharmaceutical assistants undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In response, we committed to the development of a CPD model for pharmaceutical assistants as part of our Corporate Strategy 2021-2024.
To assist us in identifying an appropriate model of CPD, we sought external expertise. The consultants, Mazars, were appointed and their report, Report to Support the Development of a Continuing Professional Development CPD Model for Pharmaceutical Assistants makes recommendations for a proposed CPD model. The report, and the recommended CPD model, were approved by the Council of PSI at its meeting of 22 June 2023.
The recommended CPD model, is a bespoke CPD model that draws on elements from the CPD model for pharmacists, and that utilises the infrastructure (ePortfolio) already in place.
What is this public consultation about?
One recommendation included in the Report is that we develop guidelines / standards or ‘themes’ that will provide direction and guidance for pharmaceutical assistants to conduct and manage their CPD learning activities within the new CPD model.
At this stage of the development and implementation of the CPD model, we are seeking feedback on seven proposed themes that will assist and guide pharmaceutical assistants when self-reflecting on their practice as part of their CPD requirements. These themes have been developed in consultation with the Pharmaceutical Assistants Association (PAA) and are intended to be reflective of pharmaceutical assistants’ practice.
The public consultation will be open from Thursday, 20 June 2024 to 6pm on Thursday, 18 July 2024. This is your opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed CPD themes.
How to give feedback?
Please review the Public Consultation on the Draft Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Themes for Pharmaceutical Assistants.
We welcome your feedback on the CPD themes during the consultation period from Thursday, 20 June 2024 to 6pm on Thursday, 18 July 2024. You can provide feedback by one of the following ways:
1. Online questionnaire
The fastest way to give your feedback is through the online questionnaire.
2. Email
You can also give your feedback by email to andrea.boland@psi.ie
3. Post
Alternatively, you can give your feedback by post at:
Andrea Boland
Professional Standards Coordinator
PSI House, Fenian Street
Dublin 2
D02 TD72
The deadline for making a submission is 6pm on Thursday, 18 July 2024.
What will we do with your feedback?
At the end of the public consultation, we will review and consider your feedback. Where appropriate, changes may be made to the themes in response to the feedback received. We will draft a consultation report which will be considered by the Council of the PSI and published on our website.
Further Information
If you are a pharmaceutical assistant and would like further information on the CPD model and how the themes will be used, please contact Andrea Boland at andrea.boland@psi.ie or 01 2184009.
If you have any questions in relation to this public consultation, you can contact Andrea Boland, Professional Standards Coordinator, at andrea.boland@psi.ie or 01 2184009.
Data Protection and Freedom of Information:
Please note that submissions made to the PSI during public consultations are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The information provided to PSI consultations will be stored in a secure and confidential manner by the PSI, it will only be used for the purposes outlined and it will be deleted in line with the PSI’s record retention policy. After each public consultation we publish a consultation report on this website that contains a summary of comments received, the PSI response to those, and list of any organisations that have given their feedback, where those have been provided.
View previous PSI public consultations