The General Pharmaceutical Council has submitted a response to the government’s NHS, Change conversation, which will help shape the 10-Year Health Plan for England. The full response can be seen on our website.
Organisations were asked to answer questions based on three transformational shifts:
- moving more care from hospitals to communities
- making better use of technology in health and care
- focussing on preventing sickness, not just treating it
The GPhC response noted that all three shifts depend, to a significant extent, on delivering the high ambitions for pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to further expand their roles in integrated health services, improving access to care for patients and the public.
It goes on to say the challenges faced by the pharmacy sector, from medicine shortages and workforce planning to commercial viability could put the government’s plans at risk.
Moving more care from hospitals to communities
Commenting on moving care from hospitals to communities, the GPhC highlighted the importance of access to data, including patient records, to help inform decision-making on medicines, and to enable pharmacy services to work closely with hospitals and doctors in delivering safe and effective care for patients.
Making better use of technology in health and care
The GPhC response stated that digital integration and interoperability across healthcare is not currently where it needs to be, and can be an obstacle to safe, effective and person-centred care. Allowing pharmacy services full read and write access to a patient’s clinical records in all care settings will bring transformative benefits.
Focussing on preventing sickness, not just treating it
The fact all newly registered pharmacists will be independent prescribers from 2026 was emphasised as adding to the role pharmacists can play - enabling community pharmacists to identify and prescribe for ill health as early as possible.
Chief Strategy Office at the General Pharmaceutical Council, Louise Edwards, said:
“Pharmacy has a central role to play in delivering the Government’s three transformational shifts to the NHS, but our response highlights that the pharmacy sector currently faces challenges that impact its short- and long-term sustainability, and that could put the government’s plans at risk.
“The 10-year Health Plan for England provides the opportunity to put pharmacy on a resilient and sustainable footing for the future, and enable pharmacy teams to fulfil wider clinical roles.
“We stand ready to support positive change for patients and the pharmacy sector and look forward to continued discussions about how this change can be achieved.”