First annual GPhC perceptions survey finds high professional confidence but concerns over workplace pressures

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians report high levels of confidence in their professional judgement and strong familiarity with professional standards, but concerns about workforce shortages, workload pressures and the effectiveness of revalidation remain, according to the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) first annual registrants’ perception survey.

The survey, launched in May 2026 as part of the GPhC’s 2025-2030 strategy, attracted 5,368 responses from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, representing 5.6% of the register. The regulator said the annual survey is intended to provide a baseline for tracking views of registrants over time and to help inform future regulatory improvements.

Overall, the findings present a positive picture of professional confidence across the pharmacy sector. The survey found that 97% of respondents were familiar with the professional standards relevant to their role, while 94% said they were confident making decisions in difficult or unclear situations. Nine in ten respondents also agreed that they were able to deliver safe and effective pharmacy services.

Three-quarters of respondents said the GPhC’s standards and guidance help them deliver safe and effective care, with pharmacy technicians reporting higher levels of agreement than pharmacists. Feedback indicated that registrants generally regard the standards as a useful framework that supports safe, ethical and patient-centred practice, although respondents highlighted the need for standards to remain relevant to emerging areas of practice and the increasingly diverse roles undertaken by pharmacy professionals.

Despite the broadly positive findings, the survey also identified pressures affecting frontline practice. Among the small proportion of respondents who said they were not able to consistently deliver safe and effective pharmacy services, most cited workforce shortages, workload and time pressures as the primary reasons. Community pharmacy respondents were more likely than those in other settings to report concerns about their ability to deliver safe and effective services.

The report notes that comments from respondents frequently referenced staffing challenges, commercial pressures, low morale and workplace stress, particularly within community pharmacy settings.

Views on professional regulation were generally positive, with 68% of respondents agreeing that GPhC standards work well alongside other healthcare regulations, standards and guidance relevant to their role. However, some respondents called for greater alignment between regulatory frameworks, particularly as pharmacists take on expanding clinical and prescribing responsibilities.

The survey also explored perceptions of revalidation, revealing more mixed views. While 44% of respondents agreed that revalidation supports their professional development and helps build confidence in practice, almost three in ten disagreed and more than a quarter neither agreed nor disagreed. Newly qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were the most positive about the process, while respondents working in hospital pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry expressed lower levels of support.

Qualitative feedback suggested that many registrants value continuing professional development and reflective practice but questioned whether the current revalidation model provides meaningful assurance of competence. Common themes included concerns about administrative burden, perceptions that revalidation can become a “tick-box” exercise, and doubts about whether requirements are sufficiently tailored to individual practice needs.

In its report, the GPhC said the findings support priorities already identified within its five-year strategy. The regulator highlighted opportunities to improve how it demonstrates the impact of registrant feedback, increase awareness of its work on equality, diversity and inclusion, show greater engagement with challenges facing the profession, and ensure regulation remains responsive to changes in pharmacy practice. The survey will be repeated annually to measure progress against this baseline.

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