GPhC hits the ‘go’ button on revalidation

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has formally approved the framework for revalidation and agreed a timetable for its implementation.

Under the new proposals, published in a consultation document on 24 April 2017, pharmacy professionals will have to undertake only four continuing professional development (CPD) activities, rather than the nine required previously, but they will also have to complete two new additional activities — a peer discussion, and a reflective account against one of the revised and simplified standards for pharmacy professionals.

In response to concerns expressed during the consultation, which closed on 17 July 2017, the GPhC has agreed to further improve the framework for revalidation and to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to meet the new requirements.

Improvements include strengthening guidance within the revalidation framework and producing new guidance and supporting information to further explain some parts of the process, including the peer discussion and the reflective account.

The final framework is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

"Revalidation is a significant step change for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and I am delighted that the council has given the go-ahead to this important process," said GPhC chair Nigel Clarke.

"We have been working towards this goal alongside a range of groups, professionals, employers and patients for a number of years to make sure we can collectively bring revalidation forward in a robust and evidence-based way.

"Going forward we will continue to work collaboratively with these groups as we make revalidation a reality," he added.

Timetable for implementation

The timetable agreed by the GPhC begins in March 2018, when the new online portal will be made available to registrants to record their revalidation records.

In 2018, the first tranche of registrants with a registration expiry date of 31 December 2018 will be asked to submit just the four CPD records when renewing their registration.

In 2019, the first tranche of registrants with registration expiry date of 31 December 2019 will be asked to submit the full six records for revalidation, including a record of the peer discussion and reflective account, when renewing their registration.

All registrants will receive tailored information and guidance from February 2018 onwards to explain what they will need to do and when.

Lord Kirkwood, chair of the Revalidation Advisory Group, said: "I am pleased to see that revalidation will shortly be launched. For a number of years the sector has been working together to bring about this new process and support person-centred professionalism in a robust and evidence-based way.

"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," he added.