The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for England, Amandeep Doll on Wednesday (26) gave oral evidence at the Health and Social Care Select Committee session on ‘Workforce and Neighbourhood Health.’
She emphasised on the key measures that should be included in the upcoming NHS long-term workforce plan to help the government shift patient care from hospitals into the community.
She said “Pharmacy must be at the table as the Government develops its plans on Neighbourhood Health, and the NHS workforce plan must ensure that pharmacists and pharmacy teams get the support they need."
“As the Government looks to boost prevention and shift more care into the community, it’s vital that it makes the most of the skills of pharmacists and all the health professions,” she added.
An image of RPS director for England, Amandeep Doll delivering the oral evidence Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
The other topics discussed during the session include steps to support recruitment and retention to meet demand for pharmacists’ expertise, and the need for protected time to support professional development across care settings.
The potential for pharmacist prescribing to support more patient care in the community, and the need for investment in training and the commissioning of new prescribing services.
The importance of pharmacy clinical leadership to support medicines optimisation and service development was also mentioned by her.
She said, “The 10-Year Health Plan recognised the potential of pharmacist prescribing to boost patient access to care and the workforce plan now needs to help deliver this.”
