Supervision Changes: Bagged & Checked Medication
Published: 18/12/25
UK pharmacy legislation has been updated, introducing changes to supervision and RP/SP roles. Key dates: 7 January 2026 for authorising prescription handouts during absence, and 10 December 2026 for full implementation. Guidance from RPS coming soon.
You may be aware that, as part of a modernisation of UK pharmacy legislation, there are several changes in the works with regards to supervision and the roles of the Responsible Pharmacist (RP) and Superintendent Pharmacist (SP). The revised legislation has now made its way through the necessary processes and has been passed into law.
Most of the changes will not come into effect until the 10th of December 2026, but one important step forward will be enabled from the 7th of January 2026. This will allow pharmacists to authorise - when absent or treated as absent - the handing out of checked and bagged prescriptions.
Each pharmacy business will have to carefully consider whether and how they will adopt this change - with supporting guidance which will be freely available to all currently being developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
We will share this guidance with you once available, and in the meantime you can read more at the GPhC's website here.
Pharmacist Supervision Changes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Updates include changes to supervision and the roles of Responsible Pharmacist (RP) and Superintendent Pharmacist (SP).
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Most changes will come into effect on 10 December 2026.
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Pharmacists will be able to authorise the handing out of checked and bagged prescriptions when absent or treated as absent.
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Yes, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is developing guidance, which will be shared once available.
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Visit the GPhC website for more details.
Check CPS festive holiday opening times for December 2025 and January 2026. Contact us via enquiries@cps.scot for urgent queries.