- Conference
- 2011 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 25 November 2010
- Decision
- Carried
The role and expertise of Pharmacy technicians have changed dramatically over the past number of years. However the skills and expertise required by Pharmacy technicians has not been properly recognised by the qualifications that the post should require.
The first Pharmacy technicians were introduced in N. Ireland in 1975. At that time the qualifications for the job were the same as Pharmacists who had qualified the previous year.
The qualifications were a City and Guilds certificate after a 2 year training programme. In 2010 it is now a BTEC certificate after a two year training programme, which are similar qualifications.
Following Agenda for Change (AfC), Pharmacy technicians have come out at lower bands than other Medical Techincal Officers in other disciplines, due primarily to their qualifications not being brought up to date to modern expectations.
It will soon be mandatory for Pharmacy technicians to be state registered. This is an opportune time to campaign for qualifications to be brought up to modern times albeit coming too late for outcomes from AfC.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive in conjunction with regions to campaign for this for all Pharmacy technicians in the United Kingdom