The GPhC has published guidance on service provision at a distance.

‘Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet’ covers pharmacies that operate EPS, collection and delivery services and internet pharmacy.

The guidance sets out what pharmacy owners and superintendents of a body corporate must consider in areas including risk assessments, regular audits and managing websites. Other key issues covered include providing patients with the information they need so they can make an informed decision about their medicines and the pharmacy services they use, and ensuring that patient information is held securely and in line with data protection legislation.

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: “Different ways of providing pharmacy services are becoming increasingly common and this new guidance will help pharmacies wanting to introduce new ways of providing services to their patients. We expect that this guidance will apply to almost every pharmacy and I would urge all pharmacy owners, superintendents and staff to engage with it.