The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) have advised that they will be extending changes to revalidation requirements. This announcement comes due to pressures such as those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic which are likely to increase in the upcoming winter months.
Reflective Accounts for renewal
Between December 2021 and February 2022 Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians will only be required to submit a reflective account when renewing their GPhC registration. These changes were initially introduced in March 2020; extended to November 2021 and are now being further extended. The GPhC continues to maintain their commitment to review the effects of the the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive of the GPhC, Duncan Rudkin, advised that the GPhC will maintain revised revalidation requirements, in recognition of continued pressures experienced by pharmacy professionals due to the pandemic.
Pharmacy professionals with renewal deadlines from December 2021 to February 2022, and expiry dates from February 2022 to April 2022, only need to submit a reflective account for revalidation and will not be required to submit the five other revalidation records. They will be given a minimum of three months’ notice of when full revalidation requirements are set to be reintroduced. Read about revalidation here.
Resumption of full revalidation
The GPhC intends to resume full revalidation when the emergency powers introduced in response to the Pandemic are removed. This will, however, remain under active review.
Reflection of one or more of the below three standards are still required by Pharmacy professionals when completing their reflective account:
- Standard 3 – Pharmacy professionals must communicate effectively
- Standard 6 – Pharmacy professionals must behave professionally
- Standard 9 – Pharmacy professionals must demonstrate leadership
Pharmacy professionals are encouraged by the GPhC to reflect on experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic when completing reflective accounts.
Submission of Pharmacy professionals reflective accounts via my GPhC portal are required as usual when renewing their registration.
To find out more about the GPhC please follow this link.