Committee publication · Correspondence · 20 May 2026

Correspondence from GPC- Progress on PSA Performance Review

Summary

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) updates the Health and Social Care Committee on progress against the Professional Standards Authority's 18 regulatory standards. Despite implementing a comprehensive improvement programme since 2024, the GPhC acknowledges it will not meet Standard 15 (timeliness) in the current review period, though it reports significant gains in case resolution, inspection activity, and processing efficiency.

Key findings

Reduced legacy cases over two years old by over 45%, with median investigation resolution times improved by almost five months over the past year
Increased pharmacy premises inspections by 35% to nearly 2,000 (highest since pre-pandemic) and regulatory contacts by 23%, despite 28% reduced registered premises capacity
Acknowledges it will not meet PSA Standard 15 (timeliness) in the current review and faces challenges meeting it by June 2027 due to ongoing impact of resolving older cases
Increased final hearing resolutions by 30% and reduced cases over three years old by 30%, though faces 25% increase in new concerns raised
Committed to resolving legacy caseload by increasing final hearing resolutions by 50% and reducing investigations open over two years by 30% in next year

Tone

Procedural

Topics

regulatory-performancehealthcare-professionalscase-managementpublic-confidence

Key actors

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Professional Standards Authority (PSA), Layla Moran MP, Gisela Abbam, Health and Social Care Committee

Notable line

“… we will not meet that standard in the current review period and there remains a challenge of our meeting it by June”

Key Quotes

“The GPhC is committed to improving our fitness to practise processes and making investigations more streamlined and proportionate.”
— Gisela Abbam, GPhC Chair · stating the organisation's commitment to reform

“… we will not meet that standard in the current review period and there remains a challenge of our meeting it by June”
— Gisela Abbam, GPhC Chair · on failing to meet PSA Standard 15 (timeliness)

“Over the last year, and against a backdrop of a further 25 per cent increase in concerns being raised with us …”
— Gisela Abbam, GPhC Chair · on performance metrics achieved

“We recognise the impact this has on our registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as well as on public confidence in our regulatory function.”
— Gisela Abbam, GPhC Chair · on acknowledging stakeholder impact

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗