GPhC begins work to introduce extra fitness to practise checks
Practice The General Pharmaceutical Council agreed the principles for introducing a revalidation policy, which will require pharmacists to demonstrate their fitness to practise on an ongoing basis, at a meeting on January 12.
Pharmacy's regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council, has confirmed its plans to introduce extra fitness-to-practise checks on pharmacists and has started work to develop models for revalidation.
The GPhC agreed the principles for introducing a revalidation policy, which will require pharmacists to demonstrate their fitness to practise on an ongoing basis, at a meeting on January 12.
GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin (pictured) said current CPD requirements were not enough to give the public full confidence in the profession.
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"CPD shows that pharmacists have put in the effort to keep up to date, but doesn't give the public the positive assurance that these learnings are working in practice," he told C+D. "Following a whole history of medical scandals such as Harold Shipman and [the case at] the Bristol Royal Infirmary, there's this idea that it's not enough to just secure your initial registration." But Mr Rudkin stressed that the council would aim to minimise the burden on pharmacists from any revalidation system. "One of the key things is to minimise the need to create new systems and processes as far as possible," he explained. "Revalidation should prompt pharmacy to ask itself how it can provide us with the evidence we need – it's much better than us sitting here in Lambeth and saying ‘you must do it this way'. We want something that works and is meaningful for them."  At its most recent meeting, the council agreed on a vision for pharmacy revalidation, describing it as: "The process by which assurance of continuing fitness to practise of registrants is provided and in a way which is aimed primarily at supporting and enhancing professional practice." The council will now take its plans to introduce revalidation forward, seeking views from both pharmacists and patients. "Revalidation is necessary in pharmacy and we should move towards that, but we don't want to do it in a way that makes it some big, scary thing," Mr Rudkin said. |
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"Pharmacists already have to professionally comply with ongoing professional development, which is already checked by GPhC. This would be time-consuming and we already comply anyway." Julie Key, Murrays Healthcare, Tipton, West Midlands "I think [revalidation] is a good thing because there are so many things changing, such as PCTs, that it helps pharmacists keep up. Dentists and GPs will have to do it anyway so I think it's inevitable that pharmacists do it". Samiah Tambra, Midcounties Co-operative Pharmacy, Penfields, Wolverhampton "I think it's a good idea. There are probably people out there who aren't up to date with the latest recommendations. GPs will have to do it as well now. It will keep everyone on their toes." Taseen Iqbal, Modi Pharmacy, Dudley, West Midlands |
"We should recognise it as a development – there's more we can and should do to provide the public with a positive reassurance that we're up to the required standards."
Revalidation will bring the pharmacy sector in line with doctors, as the General Medical Council is due to introduce revalidation this year. The plans have faced opposition from GPs, who have questioned how they will meet the requirements without extra funding or resources.
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Do you think pharmacists should face the same revalidation as GPs?
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