Pharmaceutical Sector Update - May 2011

Fitness to Practise Cases Update

On 27th September 2010 the General Pharmaceutical Council took over the regulatory responsibility for all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The GPhC has been disposing of these fitness to practice cases, the so called “legacy cases” along with new cases since September 2010.

The Impact of the Health and Social Care Bill on Pharmacists

Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, introduced the second reading of the Health and Social Care Bill in the House of Commons on 31 January 2011. The Bill passed with a vote and the Public Bill Committee are currently considering it.

As the Coalition Government has indicated that one of its main goals is to increase productivity and efficiency within the NHS. It is perhaps an appropriate time to consider the main changes that this Bill will have on pharmacists.

Dealing with Employee Absence

Staff absences can be both costly and disruptive. It is advisable to have systems in place to measure and analyse these costs so that you can identify problem areas, such as ‘Are there patterns of absence?’

Making Training Costs Tax Deductible

Most business owners think that training costs aimed at improving skills or business profits automatically qualify for tax relief, but that is not necessarily the case. The complexities of the UK tax system mean that the availability of tax relief depends on who is paying for the training and what the training is designed to achieve.

GPhC Case Studies March 2011

GPhC Case Studies – March 2011 The following case studies have been selected to provide an insight into factors which the GPhC Fitness to Practise (FTP) Committee takes into consideration when imposing sanctions. They also explain other...