The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is looking to recruit pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across 11 new fitness to practise committee (FtP) and two investigating committee (IC) roles on its statutory committees.
The GPhC say it has “seen an increase in hearings” according to its application pack and wants new members to “make a vital contribution to patient safety and public confidence in the pharmacy professions”.
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C+D recently reported on a fitness to practise case where a postgraduate pharmacy student was removed from the register after she “falsified” documents during her studies, “invented reasons for absences” and made “widespread clinical failures” during her time of employment.
New members will sit three-person panels at hearings and meetings and will be expected to “make objective and evidence-based decisions” where “a pharmacist or pharmacy technician’s fitness to practise has been called into question”.
The GPhC says new members “will bring different perspectives, energy and fresh thinking” and they are expected to follow the Nolan Principles of acting in the public interest through selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership.
More “under-represented” members
The GPhC is encouraging those who have not been on a committee before to apply, as well as those “currently under-represented on our committees, including those from a range of backgrounds, including people with disabilities, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, those early in their careers”.
IC meetings happen to consider documentary evidence when a concern raised with the GPhC meets certain criteria after an investigation, and outcomes can include no action or being referred to the FtP committee.
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FtP hearings “makes decisions on risk and impairment” and can lead to “suspension and removal form the GPhC register”.
Successful candidates will sit for around 20 days per year on the FtP committees and for IC members, they will sit between 10-15 days per year.
A fee of £320 for a daily hearing or meeting attendance fee in both roles applies, while for IC roles there are reading fees of £150 or £300 depending on the workload.
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While some hearings take place in person at its Canary Wharf, London offices, a lot take place remotely, so it is looking for candidates from “anywhere in Great Britain” as long as they are currently registered to practise with the GPhC or Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The appointment will last four years with the application date closing on February 14, with the new members expected to start working following training and induction to be completed in July 2025.
“Fulfilling” and “positive impact”
Current FtP committee member Hana Osman says the role has been “fulfilling and flexible” and he values most the “collaborative environment” because “there is a shared commitment to ensuring fair and thorough processes”.
FtP and IC member Jay Patel added that the roles “enabled me to gain valuable new skills and learn more about relevant case law” and it has had “a positive impact on me and has helped me develop further as a professional”.
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It comes as Kingsley Napley LLP has been reappointed for two more years as a panel law firm to the GPhC after working with them since 2019, it was announced last week (February 6).
The law firm advises the GPhC on “investigation strategy, drafting allegations, collating documentary evidence, obtaining witness statements and ultimately presenting misconduct related cases before independent FtP committee hearings”.
Kingsley Napley head of regulatory Melinka Berridge said it was “pleasing news” as it had “invested considerably in processes, systems and people to enable us to fulfil the GPhC’s exacting service requirements”.
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Earlier this week (February 4), the GPhC announced online pharmacies “cannot” prescribe based on online questionnaires alone and must “independently verify” patients’ weight and height before prescribing weight loss drugs.
Last week (January 30), the GPhC launched a consultation about proposals for a 6% increase in the annual registration fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy owners from September 2025.