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  • Open consultation Targeted Consultation: Terms of service for chemists

    Consultation closes 2 September 2026, 11.59 pm

    Summary

    The Department has today launched a consultation targeted at key stakeholders including registered community pharmacists, community pharmacy owners and pharmacy representative bodies seeking views on potential amendments to the terms of service for chemists as set out in Schedule 2 to the 1997 Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the 1997 Regulations”).

    Documents

    • Consultation document on changes to the Terms of Service for chemists - clinical governance and violent patients Microsoft Word (69 KB)
    • Equality Screening document Adobe PDF (292 KB)
    • Regulatory Impact Assessment Screening document Adobe PDF (118 KB)
    • Rural Needs Assessment document Adobe PDF (464 KB)
    • Article 2 Windsor Framework Screening document Adobe PDF (191 KB)

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    Consultation description

    The 1997 Regulations set out the legislative framework for the delivery of community pharmaceutical services in Northern Ireland, including the statutory terms of service for community pharmacy contractors and of dispensing doctors. 

    This public consultation outlines proposals to amend the terms of service for chemists as set out in Schedule 2 to the 1997 Regulations which if implemented, would introduce statutory requirements for chemists to embed clinical governance arrangements for the delivery of HSC pharmaceutical services and enable pharmacy contractors (or their staff) the ability to refuse to provide HSC pharmaceutical services to a person(s) who is engaged in work-related violence including physical violence or other forms of threats or abuse whether in person, via telephone or online, without breaching their terns of service.

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