To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the safety risk to both patients and pharmacists from the shortage of community pharmacists.

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), as commissioner of community pharmacy services, has advised that community pharmacies are continuing to provide pharmaceutical services in both a professional and safe manner and it is not aware of any apparent known safety risks to patients or pharmacists as a consequence of a shortage of community pharmacists in Northern Ireland.

In accordance with the professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland, a community pharmacist would be professionally obligated to notify the HSCB immediately should they ever become unable to deliver pharmaceutical services in a manner that was both safe to them and their patients.