The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has today given temporary registration to 3332 pharmacists and 2909 pharmacy technicians who had left the register. This enables them to return to work during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked the GPhC to use its emergency powers in order to rapidly register pharmacy professionals to assist in the national response to the current emergency.
The temporary register includes pharmacy professionals who had voluntarily removed themselves or were removed for non-renewal from the GPhC register in the last three years and did not have Fitness to Practise issues. Those eligible for temporary registration were given the option to opt-out before the register went live.
These 6241 pharmacy professionals can now practise in Great Britain if they choose to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be required to meet the standards for pharmacy professionals, including working within the limits of their skills and competence.
Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said:
“Pharmacy professionals are working on the very frontline, under significant pressure, to support patients and the public during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have already been contacted by many of the pharmacy professionals who have been temporarily registered to say they want to return to work to help care for patients during this national emergency. I would like to thank each one of them for considering returning to practice during these very difficult times; their contribution will make a significant difference in the response to this pandemic.”