Peer discussions will be part of the revalidation process next year. The aim is to encourage individuals to reflect with another individual (peer) on their learning and current practice. Research has shown that another person sharing their views can help pharmacy professionals reduce their professional isolation, in addition to helping them reflect on their practice and the way they work.

It is estimated that the peer discussion process may vary in duration due to the time taken to arrange, prepare, undertake and follow up on the discussion. It is not the discussion itself that can take the time (typically it should last about an hour). Pharmacy professionals are encouraged to have more than one peer discussion but only one needs to be submitted to the GPhC when required.

There are various ways to have a peer discussion, such as talking in person with the selected peer, or as part of a group, over the telephone, or through video calls, web chat or other ‘real time’ forms of communication.

It should be noted that owners of registered pharmacies must empower and support pharmacy professionals to meet the revalidation requirements, including peer discussion, as stipulated within Standard 2.3 for registered pharmacies. Employers will need to show how this standard is met at pharmacy inspections.