Key Summary
- The PDA wants the expansion of services to be accompanied by clear workforce and operational commitments.
- Without appropriate safeguards, raising public expectations on access to care could increase pressure on pharmacists.
- Pharmacists should be involved from the outset in the design, development, and implementation of new NHS pharmacy services.
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has said that while it supports the government's move to increase the conditions under the Pharmacy First and make better use of pharmacists’ clinical skills, this ambition will only be realised if the service is properly planned, staffed, and resourced.
The trade union said the expansion of pharmacist prescribing is not a simple add-on to existing pharmacy work.
"It involves clinical assessment, decision-making, prescribing, record keeping, communication with other healthcare professionals, and appropriate follow-up. Each of these activities requires time, professional focus, suitable facilities, and an appropriate team around the pharmacist."
The PDA wants the expansion of services to be accompanied by clear workforce and operational commitments.
This should include having more than one pharmacist in pharmacies and ensuring that there are enough trained support staff, appropriate consultation rooms, suitable premises, robust governance arrangements, and protected time for clinical activity.
The PDA said if patients are encouraged to regard community pharmacy as a faster walk-in route to treatment, but pharmacies do not have adequate resources, the policy would fail.
It could also frustrate the patients if they have to wait long to see a prescriber or when a medicine is not available.
Without appropriate safeguards, raising public expectations could add pressure, conflict and professional exposure for pharmacists rather than improving access to care.
The PDA has earlier highlighted concerns from frontline pharmacists about workload, staffing, patient expectations and pressure linked to the Pharmacy First Service.
Pharmacists are already managing dispensing, clinical checking, supervision, public health services, medicines advice, and operational pressures.
More clinical pathways without increasing workforce capacity would add to the strain of an already stretched profession.
The PDA believes pharmacists, through their recognised workforce representatives, must be involved from the outset in the design, development, and implementation of new NHS pharmacy services.
