2025-01-22 16:12:29
Twelve months ago, we reported that the General Pharmaceutical Council was consulting on standards for Chief Pharmacists.
Announcing the final version of the standards, the GPhC says that, having regard to the responses to its consultation, it has made some changes. These include adding a requirement for Chief Pharmacists to make sure that staff feel confident and supported when challenging behaviours such as discrimination, bullying, and harassment.
The new standards can be found here https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/2025-01/Standards%20for%20Chief%20Pharmacists%20January%202025.pdf. The new standards are:
- Provide strategic and professional leadership.
- Develop a workforce with the right skills, knowledge, and experience.
- Delegate responsibly and make sure there are clear lines of accountability.
- Maintain and strengthen governance to ensure safe and effective delivery of pharmacy services.
The standards say, amongst other things:
“There will be times when Chief Pharmacists are faced with conflicting legal and professional responsibilities. Or they may be faced with complex situations that mean they have to balance competing priorities. The standards for pharmacy professionals and those for Chief Pharmacists provide a framework to help them when making professional judgements. We expect Chief Pharmacists to consider these standards, their legal duties and any relevant guidance, such as that from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) or other membership bodies, when making decisions, including those covering medicines legislation.”