GPhC survey offers snapshot of the realities of practising pharmacy in 2026

Overview 

• The GPhC’s first annual survey offers a snapshot of the realities of practising pharmacy in 2026.
• Pharmacists remain confident in their professional judgement despite growing workplace pressures.
• Staffing shortages and workload pressures are emerging as key threats to safe practice.
• The findings highlight the connection between professional accountability and the environments in which pharmacists work.
• For many pharmacists, the challenge is not standards or competence, but maintaining them under pressure.

The General Pharmaceutical Council’s first annual registrants’ perception survey provides a rare insight into how pharmacists and pharmacy technicians view their profession, their regulator, and the challenges they face in day-to-day practice. While the findings reveal a profession that remains confident, committed, and guided by professional standards, they also highlight concerns about the pressures under which many pharmacy professionals are working.

More than 5,300 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians took part in the survey, making it the first comprehensive benchmark against which future attitudes and experiences can be measured. The results suggest that confidence in professional practice remains strong despite mounting operational challenges across parts of the sector.

Almost all respondents said they were familiar with the GPhC’s professional standards, while 94% reported being confident in their professional judgment when faced with difficult or unclear situations. Nine in ten respondents said they were able to deliver safe and effective pharmacy services.

At first glance, those figures paint a positive picture. They suggest that pharmacists continue to view themselves as competent professionals who understand their responsibilities and are able to apply their judgement in complex circumstances. The professional standards appear to remain a central reference point for decision-making across the profession.

Yet the survey also raises an important question: what happens when confident and capable professionals are asked to work in increasingly challenging environments?

Among those who said they were unable to consistently deliver safe and effective services, the overwhelming majority cited workforce shortages, workload pressures, and lack of time. Others pointed to commercial pressures, workplace stress, and low staff morale. The concerns were particularly evident amongst community pharmacy respondents.

These findings are significant because they move the discussion beyond individual competence and towards the wider systems within which pharmacy professionals operate. The survey suggests that many pharmacists do not see safe practice as being solely a matter of personal capability. Rather, they view it as something that can be affected by staffing levels, organisational culture and operational pressures.

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As the GPhC repeats the survey annually, future results will show whether those pressures ease or intensify. For now, the regulator’s first perception survey serves as a valuable snapshot of a profession that remains resilient but which is clearly warning that workplace pressures cannot be ignored.

Need advice on a GPhC investigation or fitness to practise case?

While the survey highlights the pressures facing today’s pharmacy professionals, concerns about patient safety, professional judgment, and workplace decision-making can sometimes lead to regulatory scrutiny. Early specialist advice can make a significant difference to the outcome of a case.

Kings View Chambers’ experienced GPhC defence barristers represent pharmacists and pharmacy technicians throughout investigations, interim order proceedings, and substantive fitness to practise hearings.