Week 10 / GPHC

Question 1

Q: What legislation established the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)?

Answer 1

A: The Pharmacy Order 2010.

Question 2

Q: What is the role of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)?

Answer 2

A: It is the independent statutory regulator of the pharmacy profession in the UK.

Question 3

Q: What are the protected professional titles under the GPhC?

Answer 3

A: “Pharmacist” and “Pharmacy Technician”.

Question 4

Q: Is it legal to practise or call yourself a pharmacist in the UK without GPhC registration?

Answer 4

A: No, it is illegal.

Question 5

Q: What must someone do to register as a pharmacist with the GPhC?

Answer 5

A: Complete a 4-year MPharm, one year of pre-registration training, and pass the pre-registration exam.

Question 6

Q: Do overseas pharmacy graduates have the same requirements to register with the GPhC?

Answer 6

A: No, they have separate requirements.

Question 7

Q: What term is used for all pharmacy professionals registered with the GPhC?

Answer 7

A: Registrants.

Question 8

Q: What must a registrant do each year to continue practising? [2]

Answer 8

A: Renew their license and complete revalidation.

Question 9

Q: What is the purpose of GPhC regulation other then discipline?

Answer 9

A: To support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, not just to discipline.

Question 10

Q: What is the main statutory objective of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)?

Answer 10

A: To protect, promote, and maintain the health, safety, and wellbeing of the public by upholding standards and public trust in pharmacy.

Question 11

Q: What does the GPhC maintain to ensure professional accountability?

Answer 11

A: A register of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises.

Question 11

Q: How does the GPhC ensure educational quality in pharmacy?

Answer 11

A: By approving qualifications for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and accrediting education and training providers.

Question 12

Q: What standards does the GPhC set for pharmacy professionals?

Answer 12

A: Standards for conduct, ethics, proficiency, education, training, and revalidation.

Question 13

Q: How does the GPhC promote safe and effective pharmacy practice?

Answer 13

A: By establishing and promoting standards for practice at registered pharmacies.

Question 14

Q: What is the GPhC’s role in fitness to practise?

Answer 14

A: It sets fitness to practise requirements, monitors professionals’ fitness, and deals fairly and proportionately with complaints and concerns.

Question 15

Q: How does the GPhC enforce compliance with pharmacy-related laws?

Answer 15

A: By enforcing legislation relating to medicines.

Question 16

Q: Who do the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals apply to?

Answer 16

A: All registrants of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Question 17

Q: What is the main purpose of the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals?

Answer 17

A: To protect the public and the profession by ensuring high standards.

Question 18

Q: What does the public expect from pharmacy professionals according to these standards?

Answer 18

A: That their work is of the highest standard and visibly professional.

Question 19

Q: How do the standards maintain trust in the pharmacy profession?

Answer 19

A: By helping maintain public confidence in the profession.

Question 19

Q: When do the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals apply to registrants?

Answer 19

A: At all times, whether they are working or not.

Question 20

Q: What kind of professionalism is emphasized by the standards?

Answer 20

A: Patient-centered professionalism.

Question 21

Q: How many standards are there for pharmacy professionals?

Answer 21

A: Nine standards.

Question 22

Q: Are all nine standards mandatory and equally important?

Answer 22

A: Yes, all are mandatory and have equal importance.

Question 23

Q: What key themes are the standards based on? [3]

Answer 23

A: Serving the public, lifelong learning, and professional accountability.

Question 24

Flashcard 1 Q: What do the standards for pharmacy professionals rely on? [3] Flashcard 2 Q: What is the purpose of the examples provided in the standards? Flashcard 3 Q: Are the examples in the standards the only way to meet them? Flashcard 4 Q: What must pharmacy professionals use when applying the standards?

Answer 24

A: Pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, skills, and judgement. A: To suggest how the standards should be applied. A: No, they are not the only way—other approaches may be appropriate. A: Their professional judgement.

Question 25

Flashcard 1 Q: Who is responsible for a registrant's actions and omissions? Flashcard 2 Q: Does following advice from a manager, patient, or another healthcare professional remove a registrant’s responsibility? Flashcard 3 Q: What must a registrant be prepared to do regarding their actions? Flashcard 4 Q: Where do the standards apply for pharmacy professionals? Flashcard 5 Q: When must pharmacy professionals meet the standards?

Answer 25

A: The registrant themselves—they are personally responsible (autonomy). A: No, the registrant remains responsible regardless of advice or directions from others. A: Justify their actions if asked to do so by the GPhC. A: Wherever they practise, even if they have no direct patient contact. A: At all times—not just during working hours or in a healthcare role.

Question 26

Flashcard 1 Q: What is the purpose of GPhC guidance documents? Flashcard 2 Q: Name a GPhC guidance document related to personal beliefs. Flashcard 3 Q: Which guidance document supports dealing with patient feedback? Flashcard 4 Q: What GPhC guidance helps professionals speak up about risks or wrongdoing? Flashcard 5 Q: Which guidance addresses appropriate personal conduct with patients? Flashcard 6 Q: Which guidance document focuses on safeguarding patient information? Flashcard 7 Q: What guidance relates to gaining patient permission for care? Flashcard 8 Q: Which document provides advice on making unlicensed medicines? Flashcard 9 Q: Which guidance covers delivering services online? Flashcard 10 Q: What guidance is specifically for those prescribing medicines? Flashcard 11 Q: Which document offers advice on how to act professionally on social media?

Answer 26

A: To provide advice to registrants on how to meet the GPhC Standards. A: Religion, personal values and beliefs. A: Responding to complaints and concerns. A: Raising concerns. A: Maintaining clear sexual boundaries. A: Patient confidentiality. A: Consent. A: Preparing unlicensed medicines. A: Providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet. A: Pharmacist prescribers. A: Demonstrating professionalism online.

Question 27

Flashcard 1 Q: When does the GPhC investigate a registrant? Flashcard 2 Q: How is fitness to practise (FTP) defined by the GPhC? Flashcard 3 Q: What does fitness to practise require from a pharmacy professional? Flashcard 4 Q: What types of issues can raise concerns about fitness to practise? Flashcard 5 Q: Who can raise concerns about a registrant’s fitness to practise?

Answer 27

A: When their fitness to practise is called into question. A: A person’s suitability to be on the register without restrictions. A: Skills, knowledge, character, and health to work safely, effectively, and uphold the profession’s reputation. A: Professional performance, conduct, or health. A: The public, pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, organisations, the police, or GPhC inspectors.

Question 28

What is the GPhC Disciplinary Process ?

Answer 28

Complaint made about a registrant Investigating Committee Fitness to Practise Committee

Question 29

Q: Who investigates concerns raised about a registrant? Q: When will the registrar refer a case to the Investigating Committee?

Answer 29

A: A GPhC inspector or case worker. A: Only if the evidence suggests certain serious issues are present.

Question 30

Q: What are the reasons a case may be referred to the Investigating Committee? [6]

Answer 30

A: Conduct or performance is affected Actual or potential risk to patient safety Undermines or may undermine confidence in the profession Serious or persistent failure to meet the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals Honesty or integrity is in doubt Health impairment affects safe or effective practice

Question 31

Q: What happens if a case is not referred to the Investigating Committee?

Answer 31

A: The Registrar may dismiss the case or issue informal guidance to the registrant.

Question 32

Flashcard 1 Q: What is the role of the Investigating Committee? Flashcard 2 Q: How does the Investigating Committee conduct its meetings? Flashcard 3 Q: What type of evidence does the Investigating Committee consider? Flashcard 4 Q: Can the Investigating Committee seek external advice? Flashcard 5 Q: Are documents and discussions during Investigating Committee meetings confidential? Flashcard 6 Q: What actions can the Investigating Committee take?

Answer 32

A: It is a screening committee that decides whether an allegation should be considered by the Fitness to Practise Committee. A: It meets in private and does not hear oral evidence. A: Written evidence on the allegation or concern raised. A: Yes, it can seek advice from legal and/or clinical advisers. A: Yes, all documents and discussions remain confidential. A: It can dismiss the case, issue a warning or advice, request a medical examination, or refer the case to the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Question 33

Q: What is it called when a registrant appears before the Fitness to Practise (FTP) Committee?

Answer 33

A: Attending a "hearing."

Question 34

Q: Are hearings before the FTP Committee held in public or private?

Answer 34

A: Hearings are held in public, except for cases involving a health allegation, which are heard in private.

Question 35

Q: How does the format of a FTP hearing compare to a court of law?

Answer 35

A: The hearing follows a similar format, including statements of the case, oral and written evidence, and legal representation on both sides.

Question 36

Q: Can witnesses be asked to appear before the FTP Committee?

Answer 36

A: Yes, witnesses can be asked to appear.

Question 37

Q: What factors are important for the FTP Committee when deciding the outcome of a case?

Answer 37

A: The honesty of the registrant and the insight they show into their behavior/actions.

Question 38

Q: What is the primary concern of the FTP Committee?

Answer 38

A: The protection of the public and maintaining public confidence in the profession.

Question 39

Q: What is the standard of proof used in FTP hearings?

Answer 39

A: A civil test of proof, based on the "balance of probabilities."

Question 40

Q: How is the outcome of a FTP hearing decided?

Answer 40

A: By a majority vote of the committee.

Question 41

Q: What actions can the FTP Committee take if a registrant’s fitness to practise is impaired?

Answer 41

A: Agree undertakings with the registrant Give a warning to the registrant Set conditional requirements for the registrant's registration for up to 3 years Suspend the registrant from the register for up to 12 months Remove the registrant from the register (struck off)

Question 42

Q: How long must a registrant wait to apply for restoration if they are removed from the register (struck off)?

Answer 42

A: They must wait 5 years before applying for restoration.

Question 43

Q: What is the GPhC’s definition of revalidation?

Answer 43

A: “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.”

Question 44

Q: How many revalidation records must a pharmacy professional submit each year?

Answer 44

A: Six records.

Question 45

Q: What are the six required revalidation records?

Answer 45

A: Four CPD records (at least two must be planned learning activities) One peer discussion One reflective account linked to GPhC-selected Standards for Pharmacy Professionals

Question 46

Q: What must each revalidation record include?

Answer 46

A: An explanation of how what they have done has benefited people using pharmacy services.

Question 47

Q: How is revalidation submitted?

Answer 47

A: Via an online portal as part of the annual renewal of registration.

Question 48

Flashcard 1 Q: How are revalidation records selected for review? Flashcard 2 Q: If a registrant’s records are reviewed and pass, what happens next? Flashcard 3 Q: In which cases may a registrant’s records be reviewed every year? [3] Flashcard 4 Q: Can records be reviewed at any time after submission? Flashcard 5 Q: How is a registrant informed that their records are being reviewed? Flashcard 6 Q: Who carries out the review of revalidation records? Flashcard 7 Q: What are revalidation records assessed against during review? Flashcard 8 Q: What happens if a registrant does not meet the review criteria?

Answer 48

1A: Selection is partly random and partly targeted. 2A: Their records won’t be selected for review again for the next 2 years (though they still must submit records annually). 3A:If they’ve previously needed remedial measures If there's a history of poor compliance with GPhC standards If records are submitted late without good reason 4A: Yes, records may be selected for review at any time. 5A: The GPhC informs the registrant and notifies them of the outcome. 6A: A pharmacy professional and a lay reviewer. 7A: A set of published criteria available on the GPhC website. 8A: They may be entered into a period of remediation to amend and resubmit their records.