Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Third Report - Pharmacy
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 140
Published 29 May 2024
Recommendations
17
Accepted
Para 98
Commit to ongoing promotion of Pharmacy First to enhance public confidence and education.
Recommendation
As well as addressing medicine shortages and broadening pharmacists’ ability to offer alternatives, to support public confidence and education, the Government should commit to the ongoing promotion of Pharmacy First beyond what has already been announced.
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Government Response Summary
The government will publish a refreshed Long-Term Workforce Plan and is implementing strategies to integrate the pharmacy workforce across Integrated Care Systems. This includes introducing rotations for trainee pharmacists from 2025/26 and providing additional funding for clinical training, including independent prescribing.
Department of Health and Social Care
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22
Accepted
Para 113
Mandate Pharmacy First evaluation assesses digital systems' data sharing for patient safety and care.
Recommendation
We recommend that the ongoing evaluation of Pharmacy First includes an assessment of the extent to which pharmacy and general practice digital systems are enabling the necessary data sharing to protect patient safety and ensure continuity of care.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that the National Institute for Health and Care Research study evaluating Pharmacy First includes a specific line of inquiry to review the effectiveness of GP minor illness referrals and data exchange between pharmacy and general practice to inform future service developments.
Department of Health and Social Care
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30
Accepted
Ensure national and ICB workforce planning establishes appropriate skill mix in all pharmacy settings.
Recommendation
We further recommend that any workforce planning, be it at a national or ICB level, should ensure the appropriate and safe and mix of skills in all settings, including hospital wards as highlighted by Dr James Davies of the Royal …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that a 'one pharmacy workforce approach' will be supported by national and regional coordination, planning, data, and guidance. They are continuing to explore how to best utilise skill sets in community pharmacy for Pharmacy First and future prescribing services.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Conclusions (3)
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 48
It is also especially worrying that shortages are resulting in patients being directed back into general practice. There is a serious risk that any capacity that general practice gains, through services like Pharmacy First, will be negated by the time spent re-issuing prescriptions as a result of shortages, thus undermining …
Government Response Summary
The government reiterates that current regulations require exact dispensing for patient safety, notes most prescriptions are generic, and explains that a previous proposal for generic substitution was not progressed due to patient safety concerns.
14
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 91
It is clear that pharmacists are already struggling to find the time they need for consultations with patients in often busy community pharmacy environments with competing priorities, despite their ambition to do more. Future service expansion must be conscious of the capacity of pharmacists to deliver both existing services, and …
Government Response Summary
The government will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan this summer. It is also reforming pharmacist education and training, providing national funding to expand Designated Prescribing Practitioner capacity, funding training for Pharmacy Technician supervisors, and exploring MPharm student placement funding.
28
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 172
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 …
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.