On Monday 26 January 2026 the Society launched its new Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance for Pharmacists, setting out the professional standards expected of all pharmacists practising in Northern Ireland.
The updated Code reflects the evolving scope of pharmacy practice and places a strong emphasis on person-centred, ethical and inclusive care. It provides clear guidance to pharmacists, supports safe and effective practice across all settings, and reassures the public that all registered pharmacists are held to these high professional standards.
The Code has been developed following extensive engagement with pharmacists, patients, professional bodies and wider stakeholders, whose contributions have been invaluable in shaping a Code that is relevant, accessible and supportive of modern pharmacy practice.
Key features of the new Code include:
- Clear articulation of professional standards for pharmacists at all stages of their career
- Guidance designed to be accessible to both professionals and the public
- Emphasis on safe, ethical, and person-centred care
Ann McCorry, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, and Expert Advisory Panel member, said:
“The update to the Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance for Pharmacists is welcomed across all pharmacy settings. It ensures that every clinical decision made by pharmacists is guided by integrity and professionalism, with a commitment to safe and effective patient care.”
Fellow Expert Advisory Panel member Helen Hirst, Senior Lead Experiential Learning Community Pharmacy at the Northern Ireland Centre for Pharmacy Learning and Development, said:
“As a member of the Code Review Advisory Group and as an experienced pharmacist, I valued the opportunity to contribute to shaping a Code that supports all pharmacists in applying their professional judgement in delivering safe, ethical and person-centred care across all settings in Northern Ireland.”
Greta Gurklyte, Housing and Disability Officer at Disability Action, who also sat on the Advisory Panel, said:
“I welcomed the invitation to take part in the working group to develop the Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance for pharmacists.
“The Code was developed by working under the co-design principle. The Pharmaceutical Society listened not only to registered pharmacists but also trainees and people with lived experience.
“Due to this collaborative approach the code encompasses views of all stakeholders involved and is a blueprint for how such initiatives should be carried out in the future.”
Canice Ward, Chief Executive Officer at the Society, said:
“As a pharmacist and Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, I have seen first-hand the rapid evolution of pharmacy practice and the significant changes that will continue in the years ahead. The Code we launch today is a direct response to that change.
“Pharmacists are now delivering expanded clinical services, prescribing, and working more closely within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. The Code has been updated to reflect these realities and to align with a healthcare system that is increasingly focused on integrated care, innovation and prevention.
“We will continue our communications and engagement to ensure pharmacists, trainees, students and the public understand what the Code means in practice. For us at the Society, this is about more than compliance. It is about supporting a culture of professionalism, openness, learning and leadership across pharmacy in Northern Ireland.”
Dr Geraldine O’Hare, President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said:
“This Code is central to our responsibility to ensure that the standards governing the profession are clear, robust and focused on protecting the public. It underpins trust: the trust that patients place in pharmacists, and the confidence the public can have in the standards that govern professional practice.
“It is not intended to be static. It is designed as a living framework that can evolve as pharmacy practice and the wider healthcare system continue to change. It reflects the values that Council expects to see upheld across the profession – integrity, accountability and a strong focus on people who use pharmacy services.
“Pharmacy is evolving rapidly, with new roles and responsibilities emerging across all settings. This Code provides an important foundation, helping ensure that as practice changes, public protection and professional standards remain central.”
For all documents related to the consultation that produced the revised Code, go to the Consultations page of our website, and look under the “Consultations Outcomes” section.