B5. Fitness to practise for pharmacists

Question 1

what are the nine principles of pharmacy professionals?

Answer 1

1. Provide person-centred care
2. Work in partnership with others
3. Communicate effectively
4. Maintain, develop and use their professional knowledge and skills
5. Use professional judgement
6. Behave in a professional manner
7. Respect and maintain the person’s confidentiality and privacy
8. Speak up when they have concerns or when things go wrong
9. Demonstrate leadership

Question 2

Jurisdiction of GPhC?

Answer 2

• A person convicted of a criminal offence or whose fitness to practise is
  impaired
  ₋ Pharmacist
  ₋ Pharmacy Technician
  ₋ Foundation Trainee Pharmacist
• Corporate bodies (which run a pharmacy) relating to certain offences:
  ₋ Human Medicines Regulations 2012
  ₋ Medicines Act 1968
  ₋ Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
  ₋ Other legislation relating to Pharmacy

Question 3

GPhC is overseen by?

Answer 3

Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social
Care (common to all health professionals)

Question 4

3 statutory coMmittees for GPhC?

Answer 4

-Investigating Committee
– Fitness to Practise Committee
– Appeals Committee
ONE NOTE

Question 5

What can GPhC inspector do?

Answer 5

-no referral
-report made
-advice

Question 6

What can the investigating committee do?

Answer 6

-dismiss case
-Advice
-Warning
-Agree undertakings
-Criminal prosecutions

Question 7

what can fitness to practise committee do?

Answer 7

-no action
-sanctions

Question 8

What sanctions are available?

Answer 8

• Advice
  − Warning
  − Impose conditions (up to 3 years)
  − Suspension from the Register (up to 12 months)
  − Removal from the Register – ‘struck off’

Question 9

how to question if fitness to practise is impaired?

Answer 9

ONE NOTE

Question 10

What factors to consider when determining fitness to practice?

Answer 10

• Mitigating and
  aggravating factors
• Sexual misconduct
• Dishonesty
• Duty of Candour
• How concern raised

Question 11

Describe interim orders

Answer 11

• An urgent order to suspend a registrant if:
  – Necessary for the protection of members of the public
  – Otherwise in the public interest
  – In the interests of the registrant
• Maximum of 18 months
• Must be reviewed within 6 months or earlier if requested