Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from Consent in Pharmacy Practice.

These resources are for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, medicines counter staff, delivery staff, managers, locums and other pharmacy team members. The GPhC resources apply to Great Britain, PSNI materials to Northern Ireland, and most NHS consent pages linked below are England-facing public guidance. Scottish and Northern Irish learners should apply the relevant local legal and professional frameworks alongside these materials.

1. Core Pharmacy Guidance

• GPhC - In practice: Guidance on consent
  The GPhC guidance for pharmacy professionals on consent, updated May 2025. It covers person-centred consent, communication, capacity, record-keeping and how consent applies across pharmacy services.
  https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/2025-06/gphc-in-practice-guidance-on-consent-updated-may-2025.pdf?VersionId=AKaeH9YXtzu.JpYaxEtt04lKwpeZZ9ac

• GPhC - Standards for pharmacy professionals
  The core standards for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain, including person-centred care, communication, professional judgement, confidentiality and respect for people's decisions.
  https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/standards_for_pharmacy_professionals_may_2017_0.pdf

• GPhC - Standards for registered pharmacies
  The standards for pharmacy owners in Great Britain, covering privacy, dignity, governance and the safe delivery of pharmacy services.
  https://inspections.pharmacyregulation.org/standards

2. General NHS Consent Guidance

• NHS - Consent to treatment
  A public overview of valid consent, including informed and voluntary decision-making, capacity, withdrawal of consent and circumstances where treatment may proceed without contemporaneous consent.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/

• NHS - Assessing capacity
  Explains how capacity is assessed for consent to treatment, including the requirements to understand, retain, weigh and communicate a decision.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/capacity/

• NHS - Children and young people: consent to treatment
  Covers consent rules for children and young people in England, including 16 and 17 year olds, Gillick competence, parental responsibility and situations where courts may be involved.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/children/

3. Capacity and Code of Practice

• GOV.UK - Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice
  The statutory Code of Practice for the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in England and Wales. Relevant where consent and capacity overlap in adult care.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

• GOV.UK - Making decisions: a guide for people who work in health and social care
  A practical guide to the Mental Capacity Act for staff who support decision-making or must act when capacity is in doubt.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-social-care-workers-mental-capacity-act-decisions/making-decisions-about-your-health-welfare-or-finances

4. Scotland and Northern Ireland Notes

• legislation.gov.uk - Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991, section 2
  The principal Scottish statute relevant to consent to medical treatment for those under 16, including the rule in section 2(4).
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/50/section/2

• PSNI - Guidance on Patient Consent
  Northern Ireland pharmacy guidance on patient consent, covering validity, capacity, information, voluntariness and good professional practice.
  https://psni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Guidance-on-Patient-Consent-final-copy-281119-002.pdf

• PSNI - The Code, Standards and Guidance
  The PSNI standards page, including the revised Code effective 26 January 2026 and supporting guidance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
  https://psni.org.uk/the-code-standards-and-guidance/

These readings will help you apply the legal and professional requirements for valid consent, young people's consent, capacity assessments and confidentiality in pharmacy practice across the UK nations.