A GPhC inspector can ask any member of the pharmacy team to explain or demonstrate how they are complying with each inspection principle, so it’s important that support staff understand them, says the NPA’s head of pharmacy services Leyla Hannbeck

These sample questions are part of a set that the GPhC’s inspections team has shared with the NPA:

1. Do you feel able to let the pharmacist know if something isn’t working well? Do you feel able to offer suggestions for actions which may improve the service your patients/customers receive? Can you give me an example?

Principle two states: “Staff are empowered and competent to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public.” The GPhC inspector will want to see that staff are able to provide feedback and raise concerns and that there is a culture of openness, honesty and learning. This could include aspects such as:

• Being confident in using the whistleblowing policy and that you are encouraged to do so
• Knowing who to report concerns to if it is the pharmacist or manager causing something not to work
• Opinions and feedback are requested in order to reduce risks and make improvements to services. For example, a member of the support staff team identified that repeat prescriptions were not being done during quiet periods and suggested a re-organisation of workload.

2. What is your role within the team?

To comply with principle one, all processes and services within the pharmacy that pose a potential risk to patients and the public need to be identified, managed and reviewed. To ensure that you’re complying with this, the inspector will want to see that all members of the pharmacy team have a clear understanding of their role and its limitations, so that each person is only undertaking tasks that they are qualified to do, and only in circumstances when it is appropriate to do so. The inspector will want to see that all staff members understand:

• Their role and how it fits within the team
• What tasks they can and cannot carry out when the Responsible Pharmacist is absent

NPA Members and their teams can access a suite of resources on the GPhC’s inspections regimen, including videos which cover each of the five principles, evidence you need to show and practical scenarios. To access these resources, visit: npa.co.uk/gphc-inspection