Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from Dementia Awareness for Pharmacy Teams.

These resources are aimed at pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, medicines counter staff, delivery staff, managers, locums and other pharmacy team members. GPhC documents are Great Britain-facing; most NHS and NICE resources below are England-facing. Scottish and Northern Irish learners should apply local legal, service and professional frameworks alongside these resources.

1. Core Dementia and Pharmacy Standards

• GPhC - Standards for pharmacy professionals
  The core standards for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain, covering person-centred care, communication, professional judgement and working in partnership with people receiving care.
  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 safe and effective services, privacy and dignity, governance and supporting vulnerable people to access care.
  https://inspections.pharmacyregulation.org/standards

• GPhC - Equality guidance for pharmacies
  Practical guidance on accessible and inclusive pharmacy services, including wayfinding, signs and information, communication with staff, desks and counters, waiting areas and reasonable adjustments in service delivery.
  https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/2023-02/gphc-equality-guidance-for-pharmacies-december-2022_0.pdf

• GPhC Knowledge Hub - Working collaboratively with others to ensure potentially vulnerable people are supported and are able to access healthcare services
  A notable-practice example showing how pharmacy teams can identify concerns, liaise with general practice and support vulnerable people, including those with early signs of dementia.
  https://inspections.pharmacyregulation.org/knowledge-hub/notable-practice/working-collaboratively-with-others-to-ensure-potentially-vulnerable-people-are-supported-and-are-able-to-access-healthcare-services-448

2. Understanding Dementia

• NHS - What is dementia?
  A clear overview of dementia, including the reminder that dementia is not a normal part of ageing and can affect more than memory.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about-dementia/what-is-dementia/

• NHS - Symptoms of dementia
  Explains common early and later symptoms and notes that different dementia types can present differently.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/

• NHS - How to get a dementia diagnosis
  Useful for differential diagnosis, including consideration of delirium and medicine side effects, and why timely medical assessment matters when symptoms change.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/diagnosis/

3. Communication, Medicines, and Support

• NHS - Communicating with someone with dementia
  Practical advice on speaking clearly, allowing time to respond, using non-verbal communication and reducing distractions.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/living-with-dementia/communication/

• NHS - Medicines: tips for carers
  Guidance on confidentiality, medicine reminders, dosette boxes, missed doses, over-the-counter medicines, home delivery and structured medication review support.
  https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/practical-tips-if-you-care-for-someone/medicines-tips-for-carers/

• NHS - Coping with dementia behaviour changes
  Helps identify modifiable causes of distress and behavioural change such as pain, infection, untreated depression or medicine side effects.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/living-with-dementia/behaviour/

4. NICE and Legal Frameworks

• NICE Guideline NG97 - Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers
  Practice guidance on person-centred care, service design, carer involvement and medication review, including awareness of anticholinergic burden.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng97/chapter/Recommendations

• GOV.UK - Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice
  The statutory Code of Practice for England and Wales, relevant when capacity and best-interests decisions affect adult care in pharmacy settings.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice

• GOV.UK - Checking mental capacity
  A practical overview of the Mental Capacity Act decision test and the need to assess capacity for the decision at the time it is being made.
  https://www.gov.uk/make-decisions-for-someone/assessing-mental-capacity

Use this list to deepen knowledge of dementia, medicines support, communication, person-centred care and the legal frameworks relevant to consent, capacity and carers.