Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
Paragraph: 172
Greater strategic planning needed for the evolving pharmacy workforce and integrated services.
Conclusion
Greater planning and forward thinking continues to be needed around the full pharmacy workforce, accounting for changing roles in the community, increasing demand in hospitals and supporting ICBs to build “one pharmacy workforce” that can be deployed across the full range of pharmacy services within health and social care. As 2026 approaches, when all newly qualified pharmacists will also be independent prescribers, this will become ever more urgent.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for greater pharmacy workforce planning, stating that the refreshed Long-Term Workforce Plan, due in summer, will provide a longer-term view. They highlight upcoming rotations for trainee pharmacists from 2025/2026 and ongoing funding for clinical training to support an integrated workforce.
Paragraph Reference:
172
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept The pharmacy workforce should be viewed as one workforce at an integrated care system (ICS) level, and there is a growing demand in the NHS for clinical, patient-facing, accountable practitioners across all sectors. The refresh of the Long-Term Workforce Plan, due in the summer, will enable a longer-term view of pharmacy workforce. From 2025, training posts for trainee pharmacists may include rotations into another sector of practice, which will be further embedded in 2026. Rotations will support pharmacists to have a more holistic understanding of the patient journey and better equip them to work in multi-professional teams in a range of healthcare settings. Additional funding from NHS England Pharmacy Integration Fund since 2021 has ensured that registered pharmacy professionals can access further clinical training, including independent prescribing and clinical skills. Such training will help pharmacy professionals thrive in integrated multi-professional teams across community and primary care settings. These developments, along with wider reform of pharmacy education and training, respond to identified workforce need, supporting a flexible, integrated, multi-professional workforce, capable of confident, joined-up patient care.