GPhC to respond to judicial review of standards

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) is seeking to challenge by way of judicial review the legality of the decision by our Council to approve new standards for pharmacy professionals which state that “The standards need to be met at all times, not only during working hours”(1).

A date for the hearing has been set for 23 March 2017 (2).

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:

“The standards will have an important role in setting out what is expected of pharmacy professionals and it is right that they can be scrutinised and challenged before they come into effect.

“This judicial review of the standards relates to an important point of principle within health professional regulation. We are ready to respond to the judicial review and explain why pharmacy professionals should be expected to meet the standards at all times.” 

Notes 

  1. The standards for pharmacy professionals were approved by the Council at its meeting on 16 October 2016 but are not yet in effect. The standards are available on our website and are due to come into effect later this year.
  2. The Court has ordered that the hearing should be expedited and should be “rolled up”. This means that the permission stage (where a judge decides whether to give permission to move to a full hearing) is heard, and if permission to proceed is granted, the Court will move immediately onto the substantive hearing that day.