GPhC Webinar

Thank you to all 122 of you that joined the 18th October 2923 GPhC webinar with Richard Chapman and myself.

It was great to see so many joining and getting involved. Unfortunately, we were unable to record the webinar at the request of Richard. However, I have made some topline notes below, to help you understand what you may have missed, if you were unable to join us.

  • Recognised the changing context of CP – recognised how well pharmacy has done during the pandemic despite ongoing pressures (financial, workforce etc)
  • Background- There are 4 regions covered by 28 inspectors- we sit in the East region. Not all inspectors are pharmacists, some are technicians. Since April 2019 approx 4300 inspections have been conducted.
  • Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists (IETP) Reform: Implementation for 2025/26. Statutory responsibility will sit with NHSE not GPhC.
  • All training posts for England must be recruited through the National Recruitment Scheme (NRS) also known as Oriel
  • Training posts must be entered into the system between January and March 2024 for the 2025/26 training year
  • Inspections – random sample, proportionate risk based approach to routine inspections
  • Pharmacy inspections | GPhC (pharmacyregulation.org) This is the link to view inspection reports. Can search for an individual pharmacy, inspections completed in the last 28 days, can even look at pharmacies who failed a particular standard
  • Outcomes– once a pharmacy is inspected GPhC produce a report. It goes to the contractor to allow them 5 working days to provide comments. Report is published on the website.
  • In 2022/23,  84% of pharmacies (625) met standards
  • Top standards pharmacies struggle in:
    • Standard 1.1 Risk management (e.g. starting a new service and not having the necessary equipment, staff training)
    • Standard 1.6 Record keeping (e.g. fridge temp logs)
    • Standard 4.3 obtaining, storing, supplying medicines safely.
  • Pharmacist independent prescribing – increasing capacity of IP
  • Changes have been made to IP course – applicants must have relevant experience in pharmacy setting, and identify an area of clinical therapeutic practice.
  • New resources available to help you understand duty of candour
  • Revalidation – resources available; annual requirement 4 CPD records, min of 2 planned, 1 peer discussion, 1 reflective account
  • Vision 2030 – priorities have been broken down to individual years
  • Na valproate – be aware of OP changes.