GPhC ‘looking at’ sexual misconduct process after C+D exposé
The regulator has said it will examine how it handles fitness-to-practise (FtP) sexual misconduct cases and initial allegations following a C+D investigation.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has said that it will review its sexual misconduct concerns process after C+D revealed that just 8% of sexual misconduct allegations were referred for FtP hearings in recent years.
In May, C+D exclusively revealed that the number of sexual misconduct concerns raised with the regulator doubled between 2020 and 2023.
But none of the total 40 concerns raised with the regulator between January 1 2020 and March 31 2024 resulted in someone being removed from register - and only three of the forty were referred for an FtP hearing.
Last week (July 12), the GPhC revealed that its chief enforcement officer and deputy registrar Dionne Spence “spoke about [the C+D] article” during its June 13 council meeting.
“Staff would be looking at how cases of this type were handled and reporting to the audit and risk committee”, minutes from last month’s meeting said.
“Incompatible with continued registration”
In April, a C+D investigation revealed that the number of sexual offences in pharmacies reported to UK police forces rose 55% in one year.
C+D asked 45 UK police forces for the number and type of sexual offences that occurred at pharmacies between November 2020 and October 2023.
Of the 78 incidents, only six resulted in charges, the investigation revealed.
Read more: Sex crimes in pharmacies soar 55%
At the time, Spence said that it was “worrying to see an increase in the number of incidents reported at pharmacies identified by C+D’s investigation”.
She stressed that “it is important that people are supported to promptly report incidents of this nature so that robust action can be quickly taken, including by law enforcement”.
She added that the GPhC’s guidance shows that “acts of sexual misconduct are so serious that they will often be incompatible with continued registration as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician”.
If you’ve been affected by sexual harassment in the workplace, reach out to NAWP , Pharmacist Support or PASS in Northern Ireland for help. Find free materials to raise awareness of a zero tolerance of abuse policies in pharmacies here.
