The Minister for Health has established a Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group to implement recommendations from the “Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy”.
The Taskforce has recommended that pharmacists should be able to prescribe for a range of common conditions. They have recommended an initial list of eight conditions which can be extended over time as the service evolves. The Taskforce has also recommended the development, over the coming years, of more widespread models of pharmacist prescribing across the health service. The final report from the Taskforce, including details of all of its recommendations can be found here.
The Implementation Oversight Group will be responsible for ensuring:
implementation of the common conditions service
development and delivery of training for pharmacists
optimising operational aspects of the service
overseeing the development of the necessary secondary legislation
preparing and delivering communications to the public and other healthcare providers on these changes
The IOG is chaired by the Department of Health. Secretariat support is provided by the Department of Health.
Members of the IOG
Niall Redmond (chair)
Department of Health
Professor Mary Horgan
Department of Health
Cora O’Connell
Department of Health
Catherine Kane
Department of Health
Susan O’Dwyer
Irish Pharmacy Union
Cora Nestor
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Padraig Corbett
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Damhnait Gaughan
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Dan Burns
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Pat Healy
Health Service Executive
Dr Colm Henry
Health Service Executive
Nuala Ryan
Patient and Public Advocate
Sinead McCool
Irish Pharmacy Union
Jonathon Morrissey
Marron’s Pharmacy, Clane
Mairead O’Grady
Boots Pharmacy
Laurence O’Dwyer
Human Products Regulatory Authority
Lucy Wyse
Human Products Regulatory Authority
In addition, the IOG is supported by members from across the Department of Health working in policy areas related to pharmacy, public health, and contraception.
Terms of Reference
Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) to support the delivery of an Expanded Role for Community Pharmacy - Terms of Reference
The purpose of the Communications Sub-Group is to:
develop a communications plan
develop associated materials required for the implementation of the CCS, which may include leaflets, posters, or other relevant communications materials
coordinate communications approach to ensure consistency of messaging
deliver communications for the professionals related to provision of the service
deliver communications to the public related to the introduction of the service
The Communications Sub-Group contains representatives from the Department of Health (DoH), the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Terms of Reference
Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group - Communications Subgroup - TOR
