Workforce Wellbeing survey open to pharmacy technicians for the first time

This year, GPhC will be sending out the Workforce Wellbeing survey to registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched its sixth annual Workforce Wellbeing Survey, in partnership with Pharmacist Support and in collaboration the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK).

This survey, aimed at supporting mental health and wellbeing in the pharmacy workplace, is open for responses until 12 November 2024.

As part of this year's significant expansion, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will distribute it to registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, allowing them to share their experiences and highlight the unique pressures they face in the workplace.

Reflecting the evolving challenges in the sector, this year's survey includes new questions addressing issues such as medicines shortages and loneliness.

As in previous years, the survey will be launched alongside Pharmacist Support’s ACTNow campaign, which encourages individuals to prioritise their wellbeing.

Professor Claire Anderson, RPS President, said: “Pharmacists and their teams continue to face intense workforce pressures, from heavy workloads to handling medicines shortages day after day. The ongoing impact this has on mental health cannot be overlooked.”

She urged everyone to participate in the survey, stating, “by sharing your experiences, you provide us with the insight we need to advocate for change and work with employers and organisations to build a healthier working environment for everyone in pharmacy.”

“Help shape the future of mental health and wellbeing support in the profession by ensuring your voice is heard,” she added.

This is the first time the Workforce Wellbeing survey is open to pharmacy technicians.

Encouraged pharmacy technicians to take part in the survey, Nicola Stockmann, President of APTUK, stated, “You are an integral part of the pharmacy workforce and your voice matters.”

Danielle Hunt, Chief Executive of Pharmacist Support, noted that this annual Workforce Wellbeing survey is a vital tool in shaping the support they provide.

“By listening to the experiences shared through the survey, we can better understand the evolving challenges faced by our pharmacy family and ensure our charitable activities are as impactful as possible,” she said.

Danielle highlighted that loneliness has become a growing concern over the past year, making it a key focus of this year’s ACTNow wellbeing campaign.

“This year, we’ve included new questions in the survey to help us better understand the extent of loneliness within the profession and its underlying causes. By gaining these insights, we can develop more targeted support and resources to help combat this issue, which is so closely tied to mental health and wellbeing in the workplace,” she added.

Duncan Rudkin, chief executive of the GPhC, hopes that the survey will help build a comprehensive picture of the wellbeing of both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and the impact of the significant pressures they are currently facing in their roles.

“We would urge everyone to respond, as what we hear through the survey will help to identify areas where change would support pharmacists’ and pharmacy technician’s mental health and wellbeing,” he said.

The Workforce Wellbeing Survey is anonymous and open to all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across Great Britain, including students and those who are not RPS members.

The survey findings will also be presented to governments across Great Britain, the NHS and other stakeholders.