The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) found that the GPhC had met all of its standards of good regulation for each of its core functions, in a performance review of the regulator published earlier this month (September 14).

In particular, the watchdog praised the GPhC’s “improved performance” in dealing with fitness-to-practise cases as quickly as possible – a standard the regulator did not meet in previous performance reviews.

The regulator told C+D on Tuesday (September 22) that it sped up its processes by: forming teams to manage fitness-to-practise cases from beginning to end; improving the “raising concerns” section of its website; recruiting additional members of staff to manage cases; and introducing training to improve the expertise of the fitness-to-practise teams.

Commenting on the PSA report, GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said the regulator will continue to “develop and improve our own capacity and capability”.

In July, a C+D investigation uncovered details of complaints lodged with the PSA about the GPhC’s processes in recent years. The complaints included concerns about pharmacist welfare, fitness-to-practise sanctions and whistleblowing.

The investigation found that the PSA had written to the GPhC three times in five years to ensure that the regulator responded to complaints appropriately.