Professor Judith Strawbridge, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, has been appointed to the Expert Taskforce to Support Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.

Established by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, the taskforce will examine how pharmacists in Ireland can be enabled to operate at the top of their licence for the benefit of patients and the wider health service.

Professor Strawbridge was a founding lecturer on the pharmacy degree programme at RCSI and is currently Deputy Head (Education) of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and Director of the Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) Programme. She is widely recognised nationally for her scholarly expertise and passion for standards in pharmacy education and practice. 

Comprehensive approach

The taskforce will initially consider options to enable pharmacists to extend prescriptions for a range of medicines and medical conditions where appropriate.

It will also advise on a comprehensive approach to facilitate pharmacist prescribing. This will include, but not be limited to, empowering pharmacists to assess and prescribe for common minor ailments within a community pharmacy setting and to use their expertise to operate as independent prescribers.

Minister Donnelly said these initiatives would make it easier and faster for patients to get the medication they need. He said: "Pharmacists are highly trained, valued healthcare professionals who already use their extensive training and expertise in medicines to help people every day. They were tremendous partners during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and made a hugely positive contribution to our vaccination programme.

"Empowering pharmacists to use their expertise to assess and treat certain ailments will help patients get the care they need sooner and closer to home – but the benefits go much further. It can help reduce demand on hospitals, walk-in clinics and GP practices."

First recommendations

The taskforce will be chaired by Dr Pat O’Mahony, and includes representatives from the HSE, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the Irish College of General Practitioners, as well as academic/training bodies.

The taskforce has been asked to provide its first recommendations to the Minister as early as October 2023.

Read more about the Taskforce on the Department of Health here.