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Just 44% (n=2,362) of pharmacy professionals think revalidation supports their professional development and helps build confidence in practice, a survey conducted by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has revealed.
Results of the regulator’s annual registrants’ perception survey, published on 15 October 2026, also showed that three in ten (30%, n=1,610) respondents felt that the GPhC does not listen to the views of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians when developing policies, standards and guidance, while more than one-quarter (28%, n=1,503) said it did listen and nearly half (42%, n=2,255) neither agreed nor disagreed.
The survey, which was the first perception survey to be carried out since 2018, received responses from 5,368 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians between May 2026 and June 2026.
The survey results also highlighted that the biggest group of respondents were pharmacy professionals working in the community sector (37%, n=1,965), followed by those working in hospitals (31%, n=1,674) and GP practices (15%, n=791).
Nearly four in ten respondents (39%, n=3,094) said they thought the GPhC responds to emerging challenges and issues in pharmacy practice, while more than one-quarter (26%, n=1,396) disagreed and more than one-third (35%, n=1,879) neither agreed nor disagreed, the survey results noted.
One respondent said: “The GPhC is a very reactive body and fails to keep up with the curve when it should be leading.”
“The GPhC deliberately limits itself to a narrow ‘regulation only’ remit, despite many professional failings being rooted in wider systemic pressures,” another respondent added.
The survey results also underscored that nearly all respondents (97%, n=5,207) said they were familiar with the professional standards for their role, while a similar proportion (94%, n=5,046) said they were confident in using their professional judgement when making decisions in difficult or unclear situations.
Nine in ten respondents (90%, n=4,831) said that they were able to deliver safe and effective pharmacy services, the survey results showed.
The GPhC noted that, in general, pharmacy technicians and newer registrants gave more positive feedback, while responses also varied by setting.
For instance, hospital and industry pharmacists were less positive about revalidation, while registrants primarily based in academic, care home and prison pharmacy settings generally reported more positive views on the regulator’s response to emerging issues than those working in GP practice, hospital and pharmaceutical industry settings, it said.
In addition, the study results revealed that three-quarters (75%, n=4,026) of respondents agreed that the GPhC’s professional standards and guidance helped deliver safe and effective care. However, this finding varied by profession, as nearly three-quarters (72%, n=2,735) of pharmacists agreed compared with more than eight out of ten (82%, n=1,287) pharmacy technicians.
Kathie Cashell, chief executive at the GPhC, said: “The feedback provides valuable insight into the realities of practice across Great Britain and helps us understand where we’re making a difference and where we can do better. The areas of improvement from the feedback align closely with our ongoing work, including strengthening engagement, reviewing standards, improving revalidation and advancing equality, diversity and inclusion.
“We will use these findings to help shape our priorities and will continue to take forward work that responds to the issues raised by our registrants. And we will repeat this survey on an annual basis so we can see if our work is having an impact in supporting and empowering pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.”
