The new legislation introduced by governments across Great Britain aims to enable pharmacists to deliver more patient-facing clinical services and enable pharmacy technicians to maximise their contribution to pharmaceutical care through effective use of their skills and expertise.
At its meeting on 11 December 2025, the GPhC Council considered the draft standards for Superintendent Pharmacists and Responsible Pharmacists, and Rules for Responsible Pharmacists, that the GPhC are currently developing, and which will support the implementation of the new legislation. The Council agreed to begin a public consultation on the proposed standards and rules shortly, once some final changes discussed at the meeting have been made to the current drafts.
The new legislation will allow pharmacists to authorise - when absent or treated as absent – the handing out of checked and bagged prescriptions from 7 January 2026.
The remaining provisions – including:
- allowing pharmacists to authorise a pharmacy technician to undertake or supervise the preparation, assembly, dispensing and sale and supply of medicines, that would otherwise need to be performed by or under the supervision of a pharmacist
- allowing pharmacy technicians to take primary responsibility for the preparation and assembly of medicinal products in hospital aseptic facilities (Human Medicines Regulations 2012, Regulation 4A)
will come into effect from 10 December 2026, once the GPhC, Pharmaceutical Society NI and professional leadership bodies have published supporting professional standards and guidance.
The new standards and rules will clarify and strengthen the organisational governance arrangements for registered pharmacies, specifically in respect of Superintendent Pharmacists (SPs) and Responsible Pharmacists (RPs). The standards will take account of the interplay between the two roles, including their responsibilities and accountabilities from both an organisational and a professional standpoint.
Lynsey Cleland, Chief Standards Officer at the GPhC, said:
“We will shortly be launching a public consultation on the draft standards for Superintendent Pharmacists and Responsible Pharmacists, and Rules for Responsible Pharmacists, to give everyone the opportunity to give their views and help shape the final versions.
“We will then publish the new standards and rules before the key provisions relating to the supervision of the preparation, assembly, dispensing and sale and supply of medicines come into effect on 10 December 2026, to help everyone involved understand their responsibilities and accountabilities, and to make sure the changes are introduced safely and effectively.”