Standard 3 on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
GPhC has met Standard 3, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Standard, again this year. We have seen clear evidence that the GPhC is undertaking a wide range of activity designed to embed EDI in its work and to improve processes across different areas of its work, including registration and fitness to practise (FTP). For example, we noted the GPhC’s analysis of EDI data of registrants involved in the FTP process, and its wider work around this, as an example of good practice.
Pharmacy Inspections
We received some feedback that raised concerns about the GPhC’s risk-based approach to pharmacy inspections, which it introduced in 2022. The GPhC said it is carrying out an end-to-end review of the inspection process and is considering how it can improve the usefulness of its inspection outputs and improve consistency. The GPhC also said it recently improved its enforcement decision-making processes and introduced a specific check on regulatory history. We will continue to monitor the GPhC’s approach to pharmacy inspections and keep a close eye on its work to address the issues that stakeholders have raised with us.
Fitness to Practice Timeliness
We note the GPhC’s work to reduce the time it takes to progress cases through its FTP system and are aware of the pressure caused by another significant increase in the number of FTP referrals. However, because timeliness has deteriorated this year, we have concluded that Standard 15 is once again not met. We have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to provide an update on the GPhC’s performance, and we will continue to closely monitor the GPhC’s performance in this area.
We received feedback from some stakeholders who were concerned that the GPhC was not giving registrants enough time to provide information during FTP investigations. While we welcome the GPhC’s work to progress cases promptly, it needs to ensure all parties are given sufficient time to be able to effectively participate in the FTP process.