The Government has rejected the workforce plan for pharmacy in response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s report. It claims they do not agree with the recommendations for a workforce plan specific to pharmacy however they do want to improve the pharmacy workforce overall.
The Government do plan to include the pharmacy workforce as part of the Long-Term Workforce Plan which is due to be published later this year. The also claim that they have a drive to better utilise pharmacy recruitment, training and retention in health and social care to improve the pharmacy workforce. This will be done by being committed to supporting community pharmacy professionals career progression and development.
The Government has also claimed that they are working on ways in which pharmacists can improve their capabilities and work at advanced and consultant levels. This will be done by allowing pharmacists to undertake a HEE approved advanced clinical practice course or showcase similar levels of competency through a portfolio submission. The aim is to allow pharmacists to develop their knowledge and clinical skills across four main components of practice – clinical, education, leadership and research. This will encourage improvements in patient outcomes as there will be a better skill set within primary care.
The Government also commented that since September 2022, pharmacy has been eligible to gain funding for clinical placements for pharmacist in their early years of education and training. Furthermore, NHSE is also investing around £15.9 million in education and training for frontline pharmacy professionals in primary care over the next four years. This would include 3000 funded places for pharmacist independent prescribers to really upskill the current pharmacy workforce who will also be joined by newly qualified pharmacists already having this qualification from 2026.
NHSE is also set out to develop further guidance and support of shared workforce models between PCN and other independent employers to improve working more collaboratively together. They will also be working on a pilot in primary care to incorporate independent prescribing and how they can improve governance, safe practice, and establish IT requirements. As much as the response and pharmacy plans set out from the Government are welcomed by the pharmacy sector, the Government really do need to ensure that pharmacy professionals are given protected time to invest in their development. They also need to recognise the immense pressure pharmacy has and is facing on a daily basis. The promises need to be translated into actions and really showcased as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.