News

GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee determinations - 17 February 2012

kboateng — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:50:52 +0000

17 February 2012

DETERMINATIONS

Name of Registrant:              Mistry, Vijay
Registration Number:            2032315
Determination:

Suspension for 12 months, with a review before the end of the suspension period.

Name of Registrant:               Thomas, Lisa Ellen
Registration Number:             5001076
Determination:

Suspension for six months, with a review before the end of the suspension period.

New director for Wales

adustagheer — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:46:21 +0000

15 February 2012

Darren joins us from the General Medical Council (GMC), where he has been acting head of office in Wales. He has worked for the GMC in Wales since 2006. Before that Darren worked for the Countryside Alliance in a range of roles, including as campaigns coordinator.

Darren said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the GPhC to raise the profile of Welsh affairs. The healthcare delivery structures in Wales are increasingly diverging from those in other parts of the UK and I want to help ensure that the Council is regulating in a way that reflects the needs of patients, the public and the pharmacy professions in Wales.

"Recent reforms in the NHS mean that pharmacists are playing a bigger role in improving the wellbeing of people in Wales. I’ll also be working to help Assembly Members, patients, education providers and other key partners to better understand the role and regulatory scope of the GPhC in Wales.”

GPhC consultation proposes cuts to fees for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

adustagheer — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:05:40 +0000

15 February 2012

A new consultation launched by the General Pharmaceutical Council proposes a ten per cent reduction to renewal fees for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

You can let us know your views here

This would mean a reduction in the renewal fee of £27 for pharmacists, to £240, and of £12 for pharmacy technicians, to £108, from 15 October 2012.

The consultation proposes to hold most other fees at the current level, including the renewal fee for premises. This is because the GPhC is still developing the approach to regulating registered pharmacies and so is not yet in a position to establish the future costs of this work.

Under the proposals, the GPhC will continue to charge 2% fees for payments by credit card, to help to cover the costs levied by the credit card companies.

Read the full document and take part here

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:

“We recognise pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are experiencing a challenging economic situation. We have a responsibility to make sure that we set reasonable and proportionate fees, but we also need to have sufficient funds to protect the public through effective regulation. Council has carefully considered our current financial position and has decided we can propose this reduction for all individual registrants.

“It is important that we make the best possible decision on fees, and so we would like to hear as many views as possible on our proposals through the consultation.”

The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 8 May. The Council will then consider the outcomes of the consultation at its meeting in June and make a final decision on the new levels of fees that will apply from 15 October 2012.

GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee determinations - 10 February 2012

adustagheer — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:08:15 +0000

10 February 2012

DETERMINATIONS

Name of Registrant: O’Sullivan, Simon Patrick Joseph

Registration Number: 2040785

Determination:

Suspension for six months

Name of Registrant: Shekoni, Mufutau Olawale Alade

Registration Number: 2021866

Determination:

Review hearing in respect of a six month suspension previously imposed on registration. Direction that on the expiry of the current period of suspension, registration will be conditional on compliance with conditions which must completed within 12 months.

Name of Registrant: Taylor, Stacey

Registration Number: 5001370

Determination:

Review hearing in respect of a 12 month suspension previously imposed on registration. Further suspension of 12 months with a review to be held at the end of that period.

The latest issue of Regulate is out now!

adustagheer — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:55:02 +0000

13 February 2012

Click here to download a PDF of Regual+e or use the document viewer

Do you have any feedback about Regulate? Click here to let us know

Regulate Feb 2012

New guidance to help pharmacy professionals with challenging areas of practice

adustagheer — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:12:50 +0000

15 February 2012

New guidance has been developed to help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians navigate complex issues relating to raising concerns, consent, confidentiality and maintaining clear sexual boundaries.

The four new publications from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will support pharmacy professionals to meet the standards of conduct, ethics and performance which they must apply to their practice.

Guidance on raising concerns sets out the responsibilities of pharmacy professionals to take action if they believe patients and the public are at risk. It also sets out how to raise a concern and where to go for support. Employers are advised of their responsibilities to support staff to raise concerns and to take appropriate action in response.
Guidance on consent outlines how to obtain consent from patients and what to do if consent is refused. It also provides information about how to assess a patient’s capacity to give consent, and how to manage a situation where an adult, child or young person lacks capacity.
Guidance on maintaining clear sexual boundaries provides advice on how to avoid breaches of sexual boundaries and the use of chaperones.
Guidance on confidentiality sets out the steps to take to protect the confidential information obtained in the course of professional practice. It also covers circumstances when it may be appropriate to disclose confidential information, including when it is required by the law and when it is in the public interest.

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said:

“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians regularly come across challenging ethical situations. This guidance has been developed in response to feedback from our registrants and others that further advice on these topics would be useful. We would urge all registrants to read these new publications, so they know what to do if they face these issues in their practice.

“Our thanks go to everyone who helped us to develop the guidance by sharing their comments during our ‘taking a view’ exercise last year. We also received suggestions for other guidance that may be useful, which we are now exploring.”

You can see all guidance from the GPhC, including Welsh translations, here

Pharmacy regulator consults on new standards for registered pharmacies

adustagheer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:04:11 +0000

8 February 2012

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has launched a consultation on major changes to the way in which registered pharmacies across Great Britain are regulated. The consultation is open until 7 May 2012 and more information is available on the consultation website: www.registeredpharmacies.org

Patients and the public, pharmacy professionals and representative bodies are being asked to give their views on new standards that all registered pharmacies across Great Britain will have to meet.

The consultation, Modernising pharmacy regulation, also sets out the GPhC’s proposals for how it will make sure that pharmacies are delivering the outcomes required by the new standards, and the action it will take if the standards are not being met.

Launching this important consultation, Bob Nicholls, Chair of the GPhC, said:

“Protecting patients is at the heart of this new, modern approach to pharmacy regulation. We have set out clear outcomes that we expect to see in pharmacies to ensure safe and effective practice. Pharmacy owners and superintendents bear the responsibility for achieving those outcomes in their pharmacy for their patients.

“We believe that this will be far more effective than imposing a detailed step by step rule book. It means that the new standards will work well for all types of pharmacy now and in the future. This is vital at a time when pharmacy is changing quickly, as it takes on greater responsibilities to help improve the health and well-being of patients and the public.

“The draft standards set out what patients and the public should be able to expect from their local pharmacy. Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists will have the responsibility of meeting the standards, but everyone working in a pharmacy will need to be familiar with the outcomes that have to be achieved.

“We want to hear the views of as many individuals and organisations as possible during the consultation, through events across Great Britain and a dedicated website where people can respond to key questions about the proposals.”

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, added:

“This consultation represents a significant opportunity for people to shape how pharmacy services will be managed and delivered in the future.

“We recognise that our proposed standards are different from the more detailed rules-based approach that pharmacy is used to. The onus will be on pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists to decide how they meet these standards. It will also mean a significant change to the way pharmacies are inspected, but it is important to emphasise that this new approach is not about catching people out; it is about supporting pharmacies to meet the standards.”

A new model for inspecting pharmacies and enforcing the standards will be developed once the standards have been approved. The consultation sets out proposals to take a ‘risk-based’ approach, prioritising inspections for registered pharmacies where there is a higher risk to patients and the public, because of the services they provide or other concerns.

The consultation asks a series of questions about the new vision for pharmacy regulation, including whether additional guidance might be needed for specific areas of practice, such as for internet pharmacies.

The consultation is open until 7 May 2012 and more information is available on the consultation website: www.registeredpharmacies.org

GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee determinations - 03 February 2012

kboateng — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:06:48 +0000

3 February 2012

Name of Registrant:                Emohare, Jude Isibor
Registration Number:               2066515
Determination:

Conditions placed on his registration for six months, to be reviewed before the end of the six month period.

Name of Registrant:                Aujla, Sukhjinder Singh
Registration Number:              2059794
Determination:

Suspension for two months.

Name of Registrant:               Akram, Shahnawaz
Registration Number:            2045100
Determination:

Suspension for two months.

Name of Registrant:                Peploe Williams, Anthony
Registration Number:              2026041
Determination:

Suspension for 12 months, to be reviewed before the end of the 12 month period

Name of Registrant:                Morsy, Ramsey Sobhy
Registration Number:              2042254
Determination:

Suspension for 12 months.

GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee determinations - 27 January 2012

kboateng — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:26:41 +0000

27 January 2012

Name of Registrant: Melville, Jennifer Elizabeth
Registration Number: 2055865

Determination:

Condition imposed that the registrant undertakes regular hair tests for the detection of cocaine and amphetamines for a two year period. The results of such tests should be promptly forwarded to the Council and the costs of such tests are to be borne by the registrant. The condition will be reviewed at the end of the two years.

Name of Registrant: Patel, Nirav Harshad
Registration Number: 2060771

Determination:

Suspension for nine months, with a review before the end of the suspension period.

Name of Registrant: Alvarez-Rementaria, Maria Del Rosario Ferrero
Registration Number: 2057434

Determination:

Suspension for six months.

Name of Registrant: Tyler, Abigail Eloise Henderson
Registration Number: 2063688

Determination:

Suspension for six months.

Name of Registrant: Gulamhusein, Charlotte
Registration Number: 2052358

Determination:

Suspension for one month.

GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee determinations - 19 January 2012

adustagheer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:33:39 +0000

19 January 2012

The following determination (outcome) has been handed down by the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee.

DETERMINATIONS

Name of Registrant: Brar, Jasmeet Kaur

Registration Number: 2064879

Determination:

3 month suspension, with a review before the end of the suspension period.

Name of Registrant: Doal, Harwinder Singh

Registration Number: 2049531

Determination:

Decision that Mr Doal is not entitled to be restored to the Register, following an application for restoration.

Name of Registrant: Tuckwood, Moira Jane

Registration Number: 5000470

Determination:

Suspension for 12 months, with a further review before that period expires