In Summer 2021, the GPhC Council commissioned a short-life working group chaired by Council member Aamer Safdar. The group was asked to make recommendations on the potential leadership and quality assurance role of the GPhC in education and training for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians after they had joined the register.
After considering the recommendations from the working group, the GPhC Council decided to work with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to set up a formal group focused on the assurance of the post-registration practice of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The GPhC and PSNI brought together key stakeholders on 27 January 2022. This was to ask for views from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on:
At the meeting, stakeholders felt that assurance was even more important than ever. This resulted from:
There is also a need for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to be better supported so they can develop beyond registration to higher levels of practice.
Currently there is a wide range of activity on the subject of post-registration. Governments, statutory education providers, professional bodies and others are already acting on plans to improve and develop post-registration education and training further.
We heard from stakeholders at the meeting that a formal group would help to make sure there was a coordinated approach to the post-registration practice of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, with a clear focus on patient safety.
The GPhC and PSNI are developing the principles and approach that will guide the group's work. The first meeting of the group will take place in 2022/23.
Following the success of online accreditation events, we will continue to use the online format for most course types. However, unless restrictions prevent us, we plan to return to on-site, face-to-face events for MPharm degrees and Overseas Pharmacists' Assessment Programme (OSPAP) accreditation events from the 2022/23 academic year.
Teaching is beginning to move back on site for seminars, workshops, and practical sessions. Most practice placements are now on site too. Many course providers plan to keep some of the online elements of their courses, but most are going back to face-to-face assessments.