The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pharmacist Support which aims to support the wellbeing of the pharmacy professions.
The two organisations have very different roles: the GPhC regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain while Pharmacist Support is a charity supporting pharmacy students, trainees, pharmacists and their families and former pharmacists.
By working together, the aim is to help support the wellbeing of members of the pharmacy professions – which is both essential for their personal health and can impact on the quality of care they provide to patients.
The objectives of the MoU are to:
- support the effective sharing of expertise and experience
- support the sharing of information and intelligence as necessary to support each organisation’s functions and the aims of this MoU whilst maintaining confidentiality
- ensure that effective channels of communication and information sharing are established and maintained
- define the circumstances in which the two organisations will act jointly and independently
- be transparent about areas of co-operation
The MOU will facilitate the two organisations working together more effectively, and will provide a framework for the responsible sharing of expertise and experience, as well as information and intelligence. The MoU includes protections to ensure confidentiality is maintained appropriately. It means that Pharmacist Support and the GPhC will be able to work together to promote the wellbeing of registrants, advise each other of broad areas of concern and use joint resources to the benefit of both organisations.
Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said:
“It is clear that the wellbeing of professionals impacts on their ability to meet the required standards and to keep patients safe. By encouraging an environment where pharmacy teams can focus on their decisions to deliver good and effective care, we enable them to work at their best.
“This new agreement means we can do more together to support the wellbeing of the pharmacy professions. It will enable us to promote the work of Pharmacist Support to the people we regulate, so they are aware of the help that is available to them and their families, and share insights between the two organisations to help us both continually improve how we work.”
Danielle Hunt, Chief Executive, of Pharmacist Support, said:
"Over the past five years, we’ve seen increasing demand for our free and confidential support services, particularly as mental health and wellbeing concerns have grown across the profession. Through initiatives such as our annual ACTNow wellbeing campaign, direct services including counselling and peer support, and our most recent Workforce Wellbeing Survey — circulated for the first time by the GPhC — we’ve built a strong foundation of evidence and insight into the challenges facing pharmacy professionals.
"This new strategic agreement will help us to build on that work and extend our reach — ensuring more individuals know where to turn when they need help. Whether it’s accessing timely, preventative wellbeing information or more specialist emotional or financial support, our aim is that no one in our pharmacy family should face difficult times alone.
“While we’re committed to working collaboratively with the GPhC to improve wellbeing across the profession, we want to reassure those who come to us for help that this agreement doesn’t change the way we operate. Pharmacist Support remains an entirely independent charity, providing free and impartial support to those in need. Everything shared with us continues to be treated in the strictest confidence. Protecting the privacy of the people we support is, and always will be, a core part of what we do.”
Notes for editors
About the GPhC
The GPhC is the independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in England, Scotland and Wales. Its role is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public who use pharmacy services by upholding standards and public trust in pharmacy.
About Pharmacist Support
Pharmacist Support is an independent charity supporting pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists, trainee pharmacists and pharmacy students. It provides a wide range of free confidential support including Specialist Advice in the areas of debt, benefits and employment law, Financial Assistance, Addiction Support, as well as Wellbeing, Counselling and Peer Support. For further information visit pharmacistsupport.org