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Pharmacists
“The GPhC will introduce new standards’ for the pharmacy profession”, and in due course it will consult on rules to make continuing professional development (CPD) statutory for all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This will bring an increased focus on safety and on improving the quality of pharmacy practice and services.
At the same time, the GPhC will be responsive to developments and innovations in science, technology and health policy, as well as in pharmacy services and practice. The powers described in the draft Pharmacy Order 2010, which sets out the GPhC's role and functions, have been made deliberately broad and flexible so that the GPhC can respond to future developments without the need for new or amended legislation.
Registration
The GPhC plans to create a single register for all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises. This will replace the registers currently held by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Only those professionals on the register will be able to use the protected title of 'pharmacist'. This will ensure that the status of the profession is protected; it will also boost public confidence in pharmacy professionals and provide greater clarity regarding their status.
All those currently on the RPSGB's practising register will be notified in writing when their registration is automatically transferred to the GPhC. No action is needed.
The GPhC will not have a non-practising register. Individuals who are currently on the RPSGB’s non-practising register and who wish their registration to transfer to the GPhC without a break are encouraged to transfer to the RPSGB’s practising register before regulation transfers from the RPSGB to the GPhC. If they do this their registration will be transferred across automatically at the point of transition; if they do not, they will cease to be registered after that point.
Those pharmacists who fall within the draft Pharmacy Order 2010's definition of 'practising' (see below) will be required to register if they wish to describe themselves as a pharmacist or practise as a pharmacist, regardless of whether or not they are in a clinical or patient-facing role. Roles that will have a significant potential impact on public safety, such as, for example, signing off patient group directions, will be regulated.
The Order does not explicitly cover the use of abbreviations and post-nominals and these are issues for consideration by the GPhC. Use of the designatory letters MRPharmS or FRPharmS will be covered by the new professional leadership body.
A new definition of 'practising'
The definition of practising set out in the draft Pharmacy Order 2010 reflects this broad interpretation of pharmacy practice:
'…if whilst acting in the capacity of or purporting to be a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician, that person does any work or gives any advice in relation to the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale, supply or use of medicines, the science of medicines, the practice of pharmacy or the provision of healthcare'.
Statutory continuing professional development
All pharmacists should be equipped to deliver the highest-quality practice and services throughout their working lives. Once it is established the GPhC will consult on rules that will make it a statutory requirement for all pharmacists on the GPhC's register to undertake continuing professional development (CPD).
The introduction of statutory CPD will support and further the career progression of individual pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, by requiring them to continually develop the skills and expertise relevant to their individual roles. It will also provide a valuable quality assurance check for pharmacy owners, patients and the public, and employers.
All pharmacists should continue to develop their current CPD portfolios so that they are prepared for the introduction of statutory CPD. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officers of Great Britain have made a commitment that existing CPD records can be used in the assessment process from 2010 onwards. The GPhC is working closely with the RPSGB and other stakeholders to create a new framework for CPD, building on the current system and standards to ensure a smooth transition.
Standards
The GPhC will set standards with the aim of ensuring safe and effective practice. The Council will work closely with professional bodies to set standards for:
Fees
The GPhC will have the power to set fees for the registration of individuals and pharmacy premises.
Individual registration fees for 2010 have been set by the RPSGB and will be collected by them as usual in November 2009. Regulatory money will then be transferred to the GPhC when it opens. For 2011, the GPhC will be responsible for setting regulatory fees. The GPhC will have the flexibility to set lower fees; for example for part-time or newly qualified pharmacists or those on low incomes.
Various changes to the fee structure are being proposed, including the cessation of special fees for overseas or non-practising registrants.
The date that renewal fees become due will remain the same for all those registrants who transfer across to the General Pharmaceutical Council under the Schedule 5 transitional provisions of the Pharmacy Order 2010 e.g. renewal fees will be due on 1st January each year. For new registrants, the renewal fees will be due one year after the date of initial entry.
The RPSGB has announced a fee increase of 2.2% for 2010. Fees have been set within the Retail Prices Index (RPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures of inflation.
Fees for premises for 2010 will be set as usual by the Department of Health in late 2009, but for 2011 the GPhC will be responsible for setting premises fees. For premises, fees may also vary based on risk: for example, pharmacy premises could be charged more if they need more frequent visits because they are failing to meet the prescribed standards.
The scope of the new arrangements
These arrangements will apply to all pharmacists, including:
- community pharmacists (those working in an independent pharmacy or multiple pharmacies)
- hospital pharmacists
- academic pharmacists
- industrial pharmacists
- veterinary pharmacists
- primary care pharmacists
- pharmacy superintendents.
They will also apply to pharmacy technicians and pharmacy owners/employers.
Read a community pharmacist's view.
Read a hospital pharmacist's view.
Read an industrial pharmacist's view.
Read a pharmacy academic's view.
Read a pharmacy superintendent's view.
Read a primary care pharmacist's view.
The devolved administrations
The new system of regulation will apply to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and premises in England, Scotland and Wales. The system will be sufficiently flexible to respond to the different policy contexts for pharmacy in each of the three countries.
For further information, see the section on frequently asked questions.