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A large proportion of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who responded to the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) first ever annual survey measuring registrants’ perceptions of the regulator said they do not think it listens to their views when developing policies, standards and guidance.

The online survey, which ran from May to June this year as part of the GPhC’s five-year strategy to improve its performance and uphold patient safety and public trust in pharmacy, drew responses from 5,368 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, equating to 5.6 per cent of the register.

A breakdown of responses showed 3,799 pharmacists and 1,569 pharmacy technicians took part.

Thirty per cent of respondents disagreed that the GPhC listens to them, 28 per cent agreed and 42 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed. Pharmacists were more likely to disagree than pharmacy technicians and the GPhC said “both professions had high levels of neutral responses”.

The survey, which the GPhC said largely presented “a positive picture of professional confidence and the continued relevance of the GPhC’s professional standards”, resulted in four broad areas for improvement.

Those included strengthening how it takes on board registrants’ feedback and communicates how that informs its decision-making, showing it is aware of the challenges facing registrants, increasing its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and ensuring regulation “remains responsive to the changing professional environment and evolving pharmacy practice”.

Workforce shortages, workload and time pressures

The GPhC reported that most respondents said they were familiar with the standards (97 per cent), confident in their professional judgement (94 per cent) and able to deliver safe and effective pharmacy services (90 per cent).

Seventy-five per cent of registrants agreed the standards and guidance help them deliver safe and effective care, but more pharmacy technicians (82 per cent) thought that than pharmacists (72 per cent).

Of the four per cent of registrants who did not feel they were able to consistently deliver safe and effective services, the majority cited workforce shortages, workload and time pressures as factors.

“Respondents also described commercial and organisational pressures, low staff morale and workplace stress as factors that can affect the delivery of safe care,” the GPhC said.

Sixty-eight per cent of respondents thought the GPhC’s standards “work well alongside other healthcare regulations, standards and guidance relevant to their role” but again, more pharmacy technicians than pharmacists agreed with that.

Newly qualified pharmacists most positive about revalidation

Forty-four per cent of respondents thought revalidation supported their professional development and helped them build confidence in practice while 29 per cent disagreed and 27 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.

“Newly qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were the most positive, with 73 per cent agreeing that revalidation supports their development,” the GPhC said.

However, those working in the hospital sector and pharmaceutical industry were less positive views, with 38 per cent and 39 per cent respectively disagreeing that revalidation supported their professional development.

Seventy-six per cent said they understood the GPhC’s role “and how it differs from the responsibilities of employers and professional bodies”.

The GPhC said those who joined the register before 2010 were “more likely to agree that they understood the distinction between the regulator and professional bodies than those who joined after 2010”.

The question of whether the GPhC responds to emerging challenges and issues in pharmacy practice drew mixed responses, with 39 per cent agreeing, 26 per cent disagreeing and 35 per cent neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

However, pharmacy technicians were more likely to agree than pharmacists.

“Responses also varied across work settings, with those primarily based in academic, care home and prison pharmacy settings generally reporting more positive views than those working in GP practice, hospital and pharmaceutical industry settings,” the GPhC said.

Forty-nine per cent respondents agreed the GPhC promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, nine per cent disagreed and 42 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.

The GPhC said the survey was developed “collaboratively with key stakeholders, committees and members of our pharmacist forum and pharmacy technician forums”.

“We will use these findings to inform our ongoing work, helping ensure that our priorities, programmes and regulatory activities continue to respond to the issues identified by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians,” it said.