The CPD records of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can now be called up at any time by the regulator. A random sample of registrants will be selected for review from next year.

GPhC has amended the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, following a consultation that received over 2,000 responses, the most responses to a consultation that GPhC has ever received. “A significant majority of respondents supported the proposed changes,” said the regulator – 83 per cent of respondents agreed with the new approach to sampling records.

A minimum of 2.5 per cent of pharmacy professionals will have their CPD records called for review on an annual basis. Having met their CPD requirements, pharmacists and technicians will then usually be exempt from being called up for two years.

The CPD records of some people may be called up more often than this, says GPhC, “for example, if you have been required previously to undertake remedial measures following a review of your CPD record or if you have a history of poor compliance with any of our standards”.

GPhC chief executive, Duncan Rudkin, commented: “We were encouraged by the interest in our consultation on changing our CPD framework and by the very positive response to our proposals. CPD remains a core professional responsibility and we hope that listening to our registrants on how to make CPD more meaningful will encourage them to continue to demonstrate their professionalism by reflecting regularly on learning and development activities.”

Read P3's interview with Duncan Rudkin at the launch of the consultation here.