The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has approved the implementation of revalidation plans for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Starting in March 2018, ‘all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will have to demonstrate that they are regularly reflecting on their learning and practice and keeping up to date,’ said the GPhC.

Every year, pharmacy professionals will have to submit four continual professional development (CPD) records alongside a peer discussion record and a record of a reflective account when renewing their GPhC registration.

Each record will show that what they have done has benefited people using pharmacy services, ‘to make sure improving the care people receive is at the heart of the process’, the regulator said.

More information on the process will be provided from February 2018.

Significant ‘step-change’

GPhC chair Nigel Clarke said: ‘Revalidation is a significant step-change for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

‘We believe that the introduction of revalidation will further assure users of pharmacy services that pharmacy professionals will provide them with safe and effective care throughout their careers.’

Revalidation changes will guaranty that pharmacy professionals have up-to-date knowledge and understand issues around healthcare, pharmacy and the way care is provided.

The ‘fitter’ approach will also simplify bureaucracy, rather than ‘exhausting record keeping and tick-box exercises,’ said Mr Clarke.

 

Embracing change

Lord Kirkwood, chair of the Revalidation Advisory Group, said: ‘I urge pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to embrace this important change for the benefits it can bring to themselves and the people using their services.’

Tess Fenn, President of Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) said: ‘Revalidation provides an important opportunity for pharmacy technicians to demonstrate the safe and effective care that they are already delivering directly for patients and the public.

‘We know that there is a lot of good work already taking place, and we hope with revalidation that this will be shared more widely.’