The education, training, workplace learning and regulation of non-pharmacist pharmacy staff: current approaches in the Republic of Ireland.

This thesis addresses the way in which patient-centred service delivery is opening up new roles for pharmacists and by extension non-pharmacist pharmacy staff. The thesis makes clear that this is a converging trend in the pharmacy practice model that is taking place across many countries including Ireland. The study explores a specific implication of this trend namely the up grading of the work roles of non-pharmacist pharmacy staff and the ensuing implications for their education, training and regulation. It examines and critically evaluates whether current approaches in the ROI including the Pharmacy Act 2007 are preparing non-pharmacist pharmacy staff to meet their existing and developing roles. Comparisons are made between policies, practices and provisions in the ROI, GB and the USA. The role of education and training for vocational/professional formation is examined along with the place of informal workplace learning in professional work environments. The complex and challenging process of connecting college and workplace learning is analysed and features of programmes which facilitate this process identified. The implications of this for non-pharmacist pharmacy support staff education and training in the ROI is examined. The thesis presents the results of in-depth interviews with a comprehensive cross section of participants from the pharmacy sector where issues relating to non-pharmacist pharmacy staff in the ROI were addressed. Fifteen people were interviewed and the sectors represented included regulation, education, employers and pharmacy support staff. The study found that for non-pharmacist pharmacy staff education, training and regulation the current system in the ROI is not facilitating their development and that there is a need for a coherent and robust over-arching policy which would integrate education and training and impose uniform standards across the sector. A number of recommendations are proposed for the development of non-pharmacist pharmacy staff.