WAJD Learning

Module 2 of 2 · 45 minutes

Pharmacy owners, inspections and revalidation

By the end of this module you will be able to

  • List what owners must be able to demonstrate
  • Say what inspectors will look for
  • State the position on AI and revalidation
  • Describe what education providers should support
  • Say what regulators have committed to next

Work through it

1 interactive for this module, built on the WAJD Teach engine. Nothing moves until you ask it to, and every one has a written version if you would rather read it.

Watch: Emma and George talk it through

3 minutes. Captions are on, and the same conversation is written out in full below. The voices are computer generated.

Emma George, I own two pharmacies. What does the statement expect of me, as opposed to my pharmacists?

George Four things, and it says you should be able to demonstrate them during pharmacy inspections.

Emma Go on.

George One. Carry out due diligence, to make sure AI tools are safe, appropriate and used in line with their intended purpose.

Emma Two.

George Clear governance arrangements. Including risk assessments, data security, patient confidentiality and information governance.

Emma Three.

George Suitable training, so staff understand the system and its limitations. And four. The tools are monitored and reviewed as part of routine quality and risk management.

Emma What will an inspector actually ask for?

George Evidence. The statement says inspectors will look at governance, staff competence, equipment, data protection and safety, when AI tools are being used.

Emma Meaning paper.

George Meaning something you can show. The due diligence. A risk assessment. A training record for each person who uses the tool. And a note of when it was last reviewed.

Emma We bought a tool to transcribe consultations. Staff have started asking it about doses.

George Then it's outside its intended purpose, and outside what you assessed. A tool that drifts into a new use needs a new assessment.

Emma Different subject. Can my pharmacists use AI for revalidation?

George The statement says it's not appropriate to use AI to create full revalidation submissions, or to falsify information. If they do, they may face further investigation.

Emma So no use at all?

George It doesn't say that. If AI supports revalidation, it must be done in a responsible and transparent way. But the learning and the reflection have to be theirs.

Emma Is this the last word?

George No. On 17 September 2026 the Professional Standards Authority and the regulators it oversees published a joint statement of intent. They've committed to develop high-level principles on regulating the use of AI by health and social care professionals.

Emma When?

George No timetable was given. So re-read the regulator's AI page every six months. The position is new, and it'll move.

The written material

What owners must be able to demonstrate

Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists are expected to meet the Standards for registered pharmacies at all times. The statement sets out four things it would expect of them when AI is used, and says they should be able to demonstrate these during pharmacy inspections.

  • Carry out due diligence to make sure AI tools are safe, appropriate and used in line with their intended purpose
  • Have clear governance arrangements, including risk assessments, data security, patient confidentiality and information governance
  • Make sure tools are supported by suitable training, so staff understand the system and its limitations
  • Make sure tools are monitored and reviewed as part of routine quality and risk management

What an inspector will look for

The statement says inspectors will look for evidence that the standards for registered pharmacies are being met when AI tools are being used, including in relation to governance, staff competence, equipment, data protection and safety.

Evidence means something that can be shown: the due diligence done before the tool was adopted, a risk assessment, a training record for each member of staff who uses it, and a note of when it was last reviewed and what was found. Intended purpose matters. A tool bought to transcribe notes that is being used to advise on doses is outside what was assessed.

Revalidation

The statement says revalidation submissions must be accurate and true. It is not appropriate for a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician to use AI to create full revalidation submissions or falsify information, and if they do so they may face further investigation.

It does not forbid all use. If pharmacists and pharmacy technicians use AI to support their revalidation, they must ensure this is done in a responsible and transparent way. The learning, the reflection and what changed in your practice have to be yours. A reflective account you did not reflect on is not a record of your development.

Education, and what comes next

For education and training, the statement recognises the benefits and names the risks: over-reliance on AI tools, loss of core skills, and exposure to biased or inaccurate outputs. Providers should support learners to understand both benefits and risks, to use AI ethically, safely and effectively, and to ensure the authenticity of assessments.

The GPhC says it will keep its standards and guidance under review. On 17 September 2026 the Professional Standards Authority and the regulators it oversees, including the GPhC, published a joint statement of intent committing to develop high-level principles to guide how they regulate the use of AI by health and social care professionals across the UK. No timetable was given, so watch for it.

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