An opportunity to welcome and support our new pharmacists

A message from Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist

This month it gives me great pleasure to welcome our newly qualified pharmacists to Boots. To those who have recently joined the register, you are entering the profession at a time of exciting change. I hope you enjoy a fulfilling career ahead of you and make the most of all your opportunities to positively impact patient care. I’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to our new cohort of trainee pharmacists who are about to embark on a year of learning and upskilling, with dedicated support from our great healthcare leaders and trainers.

Our longer-serving pharmacy professionals will be aware that this time of year is always one that involves a significant focus on refresher training and upskilling, as we prepare for the upcoming flu season and any new professional services. I cannot over-state the importance of achieving and maintaining high standards of professional capability, since this is the very least that our patients and the public expect and deserve. Please take the time to complete any new or refresher training thoroughly. One of the most significant benefits from our ongoing innovations in dispensing is the release of capacity for pharmacy professionals to undertake more clinically-orientated work and I hope that you will embrace these emerging opportunities. I would also encourage pharmacy professionals to reflect on how the current training and upskilling activities can help to meet revalidation requirements, as part of continuing registration with the regulator.

This month sees the launch of refreshed or date-extended SOPs for additional dispensing-related tasks such as dealing with dispensing errors and pharmacy incidents; reporting adverse effects and quality issues with Boots-branded and non-Boots branded licensed medicines and medical devices; responding to patient and customer requests for advice, support and information (and the associated record-keeping requirements) and managing unlicensed medicines. Full compliance with these SOPs is critical to maintaining (and evidencing) patient safety, which must always be the first priority in all our pharmacies. All pharmacy team members must ensure that they undertake the necessary training and implement these SOPs within the required timeframe. Please ensure that you plan accordingly and take action to address any potential issues, such as account access for new starters, to enable a smooth completion.