Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 173
Develop and publish an integrated, funded pharmacy workforce plan before Parliament within 12 months.
Recommendation
We reiterate that an integrated and funded workforce plan for pharmacy must be developed and laid before Parliament within 12 months. This should focus upon delivery of the targets set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. The pharmacy specific plan must: a) ensure that all pharmacists have adequate access to supervision, training, and protected learning time, along with clear structures for professional career development, including to support those who wish to complete independent prescribing courses b) consider that from 2026 all newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers and ensure that these graduates are given protected learning time, adequate supervision, career development opportunities and that there are commissioned services available so they regularly make use of their IP qualification. c) set out a clear vision for the further development of the role of pharmacy technician, and action that will be taken to deliver it.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating it will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan and is committed to growing the pharmacy workforce. NHS England is implementing strategies for independent prescribers, piloting services, and developing a 5-year pharmacy technician development programme.
Paragraph Reference:
173
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially Accept As set out above, this summer we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan. The NHS has for years been facing chronic workforce shortages and we have to be honest that bringing in the staff we need will take time. We are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time. This Government will make sure the NHS has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it. As outlined above, we have launched a 10 Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. A central part of the 10 Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities. The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan will set out how we plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again. We are committed to growing the pharmacy workforce. Reforms to initial education and training and post registration training ensures pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacy are supported to be better integrated into the NHS. All newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers from 2026 and up to 3,000 existing pharmacists per year (across all sectors) are being supported to become independent prescribers to be able to play a greater role in multidisciplinary clinical teams. As outlined above, NHS England is implementing strategies for further increasing access to prescribing supervision and DPPs. NHS England is working with integrated care boards to pilot how independent prescribing can further support clinical service development in community pharmacy. The Independent Prescriber Pathfinder Programme aims to establish a framework for the future commissioning of NHS community pharmacy clinical services incorporating independent prescribing for patients in primary care. The programme will be evaluated, and a report is expected in 2025 to inform future commissioning decisions. NHS England is also committed to producing a 5-year pharmacy technician development programme. This will focus on developing the clinical and technical roles of pharmacy technicians to practice autonomously as competent and confident healthcare professionals.