Pharmacy develops at pace and indemnity cover policies are regularly updated to match latest and emerging practice; however this requires a considered process and there is sometimes a limited period where new policies are still being finalised. The insurers are committed to resolving such policy anomalies and to simplify the products and services for members on an ongoing basis, while recognising practice will always evolve.
An example of this is, the PDA cannot currently add an Independent Prescribing extension to the Community Pharmacy policy and therefore PDA insurers have confirmed that the most suitable policy to cover prescribing activities under Scotland’s Pharmacy First Plus Service is a Locum policy with an Independent Prescribing add on.
That means employed Community Pharmacists undertaking Independent Prescribing as part of their role should have a “Locum + Independent prescribing” membership. This membership category still covers employed work, includes PDA Union membership and the other PDA membership benefits, and also importantly provides the indemnity cover for undertaking prescribing activities under Pharmacy First Plus and similar services.
Independent Prescriber pharmacists providing Pharmacy First Plus will need to ensure they have appropriate coverage.
The PDA Member Support Team are on hand to answer any questions. They can be reached on 0121 694 7000 or using the contact us form on the PDA website.
The PDA understands that a lot of information is gathered from social media and other informal sources, but please always check the facts about PDA membership with the PDA.
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.