Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the General Pharmaceutical Council (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2022 and comes into force on 6th October 2022.

Privy Council Approval

2.  Their Lordships, having taken the Rules as set out in the Schedule to this Order into consideration, are pleased to, and do, approve them.

SCHEDULE The General Pharmaceutical Council (Amendment) Rules 2022

The General Pharmaceutical Council makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 61(1), (2)(a) and (6)(b) and 66(1) of the Pharmacy Order 2010( 2).

In accordance with article 66(3) of that Order the Pharmaceutical General Council has consulted such persons or organisations as it considered appropriate.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Rules may be cited as the General Pharmaceutical Council (Amendment) Rules 2022 and come into force on 6thOctober 2022.

Amendment of the General Pharmaceutical Council (Appeals Committee Rules) Order of Council 2010

2.—(1) The General Pharmaceutical Council (Appeals Committee) Rules 2010( 3) are amended as follows.

(2) In rule 2 (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “appellant” insert—

““ attend ” means—

(b) after the definition of “parties” insert—

““ present ” includes being in a meeting or hearing by teleconference or video link and “ presence ” is to be construed accordingly; ”.

(3) After rule 2 insert—

“Virtual meetings and hearings

2A.   At the discretion of the chair, meetings or hearings of the Committee arranged under these Rules may be conducted by teleconference or video link. ”.

(4) In rule 6 (notice of hearing), for sub-paragraph (a), substitute—

“(a) state—

(i) the date, time and venue of the hearing, or

(ii) when the hearing is to be conducted by teleconference or video link, the date and time of the hearing and instructions on how to access the hearing; ”.

(5) After rule 16(4) (attendance of the public at hearings), insert—

“(5)  Reference to a hearing under this rule includes hearings conducted by teleconference or video link. ”.

Amendment to the General Pharmaceutical Council (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification etc Rules) Order of Council 2010

3.—(1) The General Pharmaceutical Council (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification etc) Rules 2010( 4) are amended as follows.

(2) In rule 2 (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “applicant concerned” insert—

““ attend ” means—

(b) after the definition of “prescribed fee” insert—

““ present ” includes being present at a meeting or hearing by teleconference or video link, except in the phrase “present their case”, and “ presence ” is to be construed accordingly; ”and

(3) After rule 2 (interpretation), insert—

“Virtual meetings and hearings

2A.   At the discretion of the chair, meetings and hearings of the Committee arranged under these rules may be conducted by teleconference or video link. ”.

(4) In rule 16 (notices of hearing other than interim order hearings), for sub-paragraph 2(a), substitute—

“(a) state—

(i) the date, time and venue of the hearing, or

(ii) when the hearing is to be conducted by teleconference or video link the date and time of the hearing and instructions on how to access the hearing; ”.

(5) In rule 17 (interim order notices and court referrals), for sub-paragraph 2(a), substitute—

“(a) state—

(i) the date, time and venue of the hearing, or

(ii) when the hearing is to be conducted by teleconference or video link, the date and time of the hearing and instructions on how to access the hearing; ”.

(6) After rule 39(4) (attendance of the public at hearings), insert—

“(5)  Reference to a hearing under this rule includes hearings conducted by teleconference or video link. ”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the General Pharmaceutical (Appeals Committee) Rules 2010 (the ‘Appeals Committee Rules’) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification etc.) Rules 2010 (the ‘Fitness to Practise Rules’).

Paragraph 2 of the Schedule amends the Appeals Committee Rules and paragraph 3 of the Schedule amends the Fitness to Practise Rules by:

• providing that the words “attend” and “present” may mean attending and being present by way of teleconference or video link,

• inserting a new rule so that the chair may decide to conduct meetings or hearings by way of teleconference or video link, and

• ensuring that a Notice of Hearing must provide details regarding how to access any hearing which is being held using teleconference or video link.

• providing that the rules for private hearings apply to, and include, hearings by teleconference or video link.

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available fromhttps://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/document/gphc-remote-hearings-consultation-equality-impact-analysis-may-2022.pdf