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How can we help?
Our specialist lawyers have experience of defending pharmacists facing fitness to practise proceedings before the GPhC. If you are under investigation by the GPhC or you have been called to a hearing, it is vital that you seek specialist legal representation to safeguard your practice. For immediate advice from a member of our team call 01616 966 229.
Why Stephensons?
We are recommended by the Legal 500 for professional disciplinary work. We are a national law firm with a network or offices, including London and Manchester, allowing us to act for clients nationwide. Our team of professional discipline lawyers have experience of dealing with a wide range of issues, including professional registration & restoration, allegations of deficient professional performance, allegations of professional misconduct, criminal convictions and health-related issues. We pride ourselves on achieving the best possible results for our clients. We also understand the needs and anxieties of clients whose professional status and livelihood is at risk.
Head of Regulatory Law Carl Johnson talks about the role his team take in professional discipline and fitness to practise issues. Carl discusses the sort of cases the team at Stephensons can handle, the possible outcomes of professional discipline investigations and why legal advice is vital.
"This area of law involves cases which are often highly emotionally charged. For a professional to be under scrutiny by their regulator or professional body that can create a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety and put clients under a lot of pressure. A specialist lawyer provides a much needed barrier between the professional and their regulator and can help absorb some of that pressure and stress, and that's an important service that we provide to our clients." - Carl Johnson
An investigation by the GPhC can have serious implications to your practice. While the investigation is ongoing you may be referred to a hearing before the fitness to practise committee to consider an interim order. If the committee determine that an order is necessary you may be suspended from practice on an interim basis or made the subject of conditions which restrict your registration.
At the conclusion of an investigation your case may be referred to the investigating committee. The committee has wide ranging powers which include taking no further action, issuing a warning, accepting undertakings, referring your case to the fitness to practise committee and directing that criminal proceedings should be commenced against you.
If your case is referred to the GPhC’s fitness to practice committee and allegations are either admitted or found proven then there are a range of sanctions available. These include issuing warnings, imposing conditions of practice, suspension and removal from the GPhC register. We can advise on the best strategy to adopt at your hearing. Where allegations are denied we can prepare and present your defence case. Where allegations are admitted we can assist you with preparing evidence of mitigation and remediation.
Our lawyers can assist at all stages of proceedings, including:
If you are facing proceedings before the GPhC then our specialist lawyers can assist. If you would like to speak to a member of the team, in confidence, please call 01616 966 229. Alternatively please complete our online enquiry form and a member of the team will contact you as a matter of urgency.
We acted on behalf of a manager of a pharmacy who was being investigated by the GPhC in respect of allegations that they had practised as a pharmacist whilst being unregistered. We assisted our client in responding to questions under caution. Some admissions were made, and submissions were put forward as to why a prosecution would not be a proportionate response in the circumstances. The GPhC agreed to take no further action and guidance was provided to our client.
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