‘Revised’ code of conduct, ethics and performance released by PSNI

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has released its updated Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance, marking the first major refresh of its professional standards framework since earlier iterations of the code. The regulator said the revised document is intended to support pharmacists in delivering “safe and effective practice across all settings” while assuring the public that practitioners are held to “high professional standards”.

According to the PSNI, the code is “central” to its statutory responsibility to ensure that regulatory standards remain “robust” and aligned with contemporary expectations of pharmacy practice. The organisation emphasised that the updated code reflects the “evolving scope” of pharmacists’ work, including expanded clinical responsibilities, increased patient-facing roles and the growing complexity of medicines management.

What the revised code covers

The new code outlines expectations across several core areas, including:

• Professional judgement and accountability, with clear guidance on maintaining fitness to practise.
• Patient and public rights, reinforcing the duty to provide safe, respectful and person‑centred care.
• Standards for students and trainee pharmacists, ensuring consistency across the training and registration pathway.
• Ethical and performance standards, setting out behaviours and competencies required of all registered pharmacists.

The PSNI said the updated standards are designed to be applicable across all practice environments—from community and hospital pharmacy to emerging clinical and digital roles—ensuring pharmacists can meet the needs of a modern health system.

Supporting public trust

By strengthening expectations around conduct, ethics and performance, the regulator aims to reinforce public trust in the profession. The PSNI maintains that transparent, clearly defined standards help ensure pharmacists remain accountable and that concerns about practice can be addressed consistently and effectively.

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