Latest updates on COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The Council of the GPhC has today agreed a policy for registering pharmacists on a provisional basis as part of the regulator’s response to the pandemic.

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: “We share the widespread view across pharmacy that there should be zero tolerance for abuse or violence against pharmacy staff.

Pharmacies across Great Britain are being asked to consider providing a safe space for victims of domestic abuse, as part of the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign run by Hestia, a national charity.

Three temporary emergency measures have been introduced by the UK Government into legislation (The Misuse of Drugs (Coronavirus) (Amendments Relating to the Supply of Controlled Drugs During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020).

Our Chief Executive, Duncan Rudkin, has written to pharmacist pre-registration trainees and tutors to give them an update on our ongoing work on provisional registration and the registration assessments.

We have signed a joint statement with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society about NHS volunteers in England supporting pharmacy teams with key tasks including delivering medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GPhC is supporting a new ethical decision-making framework to support pharmacists and pharmacy teams faced with making difficult decisions linked to the exceptional impact of Covid19.

Our Chief Executive and the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) have written a joint letter to pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and educational supervisors about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on training.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our inspectors have been providing support to registered pharmacies and discussing their plans and arrangements. Through their work, the inspectors have identified examples of good and excellent practice by pharmacies in response to the challenges and issues they are facing at this time.

We have signed a joint statement on the importance of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and Pharmacy Forum NI.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has today given temporary registration to 3332 pharmacists and 2909 pharmacy technicians who had left the register. This enables them to return to work during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Our Chief Executive has today written to the Company Chemists Association, National Pharmacy Association and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies. The letter follows our previous joint statement with the PSNI on our regulatory approach in challenging circumstances, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“Yesterday (25 March) we brought together representatives from student and trainee representative bodies, universities, employers, education and training bodies and others from across the UK to discuss the key issues in relation to pre-registration training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said: “We know that pre-registration trainees are working extremely hard in very challenging circumstances to help the pharmacy team and patients and the public. We would like to thank everyone for their significant contribution.

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: “Pharmacies and pharmacy professionals are working on the frontline, under significant pressure, to support the public and patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the challenges and pressures on the pharmacy sector at this time, and the increasing number of cases of COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the revalidation submission date for those registrants who are due to submit between 20 March and 31 August 2020 (inclusive).

Today the NHS has called upon former pharmacy professionals, alongside doctors, nurses and other health professionals, to re-register and help in tackling the greatest global health threat in the history of the health service. The plans are part of the extensive work to date to prepare for the likely health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

General Pharmaceutical Council Chief Executive, Duncan Rudkin has issued the following statement in response to reports of some instances of raised prices and locum rates during the COVID-19 pandemic