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Public Consultation on Patient Consultation Areas in Pharmacies
Date: 08 March 2010 The PSI (Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland), the pharmacy regulator, has published draft guidelines on patient consultation areas in pharmacies. All pharmacies must have this facility available for private consultation and patient counselling from 1 November, 2010.
Calling on members of the public and the wider health sector to make comments and submissions on the issue of consultation areas in pharmacies, PSI Registrar and CEO, Dr Ambrose McLoughlin said communicating the correct information in a confidential manner to patients is as important as providing the medicine itself. “The World Health Organization (WHO) states patients should be entitled to request to use such a facility if they wish to speak in private to a pharmacist. The requirement to have a consultation area within a pharmacy already exists in many countries, including, Scotland, The Netherlands and Australia, and it is widely recognised that patient consultation areas are a beneficial resource for patients in a pharmacy setting. It makes it much easier for patients to get the information and advice they need and it will also enhance and support the professional role of pharmacists.”
The closing date for the public consultation on the draft guidelines is Tuesday, 6 April, 2010. Since the introduction of the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations in November 2008, all retail pharmacy businesses (pharmacies) are now required to provide a designated area for patient consultation within the premises. A transition period was granted for pharmacies already in existence until November 1, 2010.
The guidelines outline that the pharmacy consultation area be constructed to ensure a reasonable level of privacy for the patient at all times and that it be a designated area used solely by the pharmacist for the purpose of patient consultation and counselling. The area should be conveniently located and easily accessible to the patient and therefore should be close to the dispensary and non-prescription medicines area.
The area must have sufficient space and facilities to allow the pharmacist, the patient and/or their carer or guardian to be seated. It must be accessible to all patient profiles and therefore must be fit for purpose and wheelchair accessible. The security and safety of the patient and the pharmacist is paramount. The use of security features such as CCTV cameras or panic buttons can be considered in the area. Patients must be informed of the presence of these devices in the consultation area.
The guidance document in full is available to view and download here.
Comments are welcome in writing to consultation@pharmaceuticalsociety.ie or to Public Consultation, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, 18 Shrewsbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
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