GPhC welcomes audit on valproate medicines safety in community pharmacy

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC said: 

“The CCA’s findings provide evidence of some improvement between 2018 and 2019 in terms of pharmacy teams’ awareness of the need to follow the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) for valproate, but it is clear there is still more to be done.
 
“I would urge every pharmacy owner and all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians involved to implement the recommendations made in the CCA’s report. Pharmacies have a critical role to play in making sure that the PPP is followed every time, so women and girls always receive the right information and support when they get their valproate prescription. In the same way, the GPhC will be following the recommendation addressed to us.
 
“Our inspectors are looking for evidence that the pharmacy team are complying with the PPP for valproate in every inspection, and record their findings in inspection reports, which are now published online. Any pharmacy found not to be complying would have to take immediate action to resolve this.
 
“We will also continue our ongoing work to remind pharmacy owners and pharmacy teams of their responsibilities to always follow the PPP, so women understand the risks of taking valproate medicines during pregnancy.”