The Authority has published its latest performance review of the General Pharmaceutical Council. The GPhC’s register covers almost 80,000 pharmacy professionals practising in Great Britain and over 14,000 pharmacy premises.
We have assessed the GPhC’s performance against our Standards of Good Regulation. For this review period, the GPhC has met 20 out of 24 of the Standards. The Standards that have not been met are all in respect of the GPhC’s fitness to practise function. Our concerns relate to:
- the transparency and fairness of some of the fitness to practise processes being followed
- the timeliness of the investigations being conducted
- the customer service provided to parties involved in fitness to practise cases
- the quality of record-keeping
- the decision-making at the initial stages of the fitness to practise process.
Our report recognises that the GPhC has committed to implementing measures to improve the areas where we have identified concerns and some of the improvement work has already begun.
More information about how we reached our decision is set out in our Performance Review - GPhC 2018/19 or read a summary in our snapshot.
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact:
Christine Braithwaite
Director, Policy and Standards
Email: Christine.Braithwaite@professionalstandards.org.uk
Reception: 020 7389 8030
Email: info@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- The General Pharmaceutical Council (the GPhC) regulates the pharmacy profession in the United Kingdom. Its work includes: setting standards for the education and training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and approving and accrediting their qualifications and training; maintaining a register of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies; setting the standards that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (pharmacy professionals) must meet throughout their careers; investigating concerns that pharmacy professionals are not meeting its standards, and, taking action to remove or restrict their ability to practise when it is necessary to protect patients and the public; setting standards for registered pharmacies which require them to provide a safe and effective service to patients; and inspecting registered pharmacies to check they are meeting the standards required. As at 31 March 2019, the GPhC was responsible for a register comprising 56,288 pharmacists, 23,387 pharmacy technicians and 14,314 pharmacy premises. Its annual retention fee is currently £257 for pharmacists and £121 for pharmacy technicians.
- Our values are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are committed to working with integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and as part of a team.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk