We’re delighted to announce that the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has joined us as a valued charity supporter.

The GPhC, which regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain, has expressed its desire to help us further our mission to support the wellbeing of our pharmacy family, recognising that it’s essential for their personal health and can impact on the quality of care they provide to patients.   

We enter this charity supportership with a Memorandum of Understanding which will help us to work together more effectively and will provide a framework for the responsible sharing of expertise and experience, as well as research and intelligence. As the profession’s charity which very much values and complies with our independence, the MoU includes protections to ensure confidentiality is maintained appropriately and, as per our regular policy, no beneficiary personal data is shared outside of the charity. 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, added:  

“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.”