April 2023
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This conference focused on next steps for pharmacy services in healthcare delivery, and opportunities to develop the role of community pharmacy as part of the health service in England.
It came amidst proposals to increase prescribing powers for pharmacists and reform training to enable them to work as independent prescribers immediately following graduation - as well as the Health Secretary’s announcement of additional pharmacy services as part of the Primary Care Recovery Plan and the potential implementation of a Pharmacy First system in England.
The conference took place against the backdrop of an evolving healthcare landscape, such as:
- developments in integrated care systems and digital transformation
- an expected update to the NHS Long Term Plan
- wider strategic initiatives to implement alternatives to medicine, such as the Overprescribing Review
We also expected discussion on opportunities to develop pharmacy services as a key component of future NHS and community care delivery.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Gisela Abbam, Chair, General Pharmaceutical Council; Andrew Lane, Chair, National Pharmacy Association; Matthew Armstrong, Senior Manager, Pharmacy Contracts and Project Developments, Walgreens Boots Alliance; Janet Morrison, Chief Executive, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC); and Stephen Goundrey-Smith, PRSB Clinical Advisor and Consultant, SGS PharmaSolutions.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- strategic ambitions: opportunity for a Pharmacy First scheme in England - long-term aims for pharmacy services in the context of an updated NHS Long Term Plan
- community pharmacy: future role in improvements to key service areas such as general practice, primary care and the ambulance service - ways to optimise medicine delivery in community care
- the workforce: priorities for upskilling - improving training to increase the number of independent prescribers - expanding the services that pharmacists can offer
- digital pharmacy: key areas for development - supporting efficiency in prescription management - potential for digital services to allow patients greater control in their care
- further development areas: social prescribing services and non-medical treatments - the NHS STOMP programme - structured medicine reviews to support reduction of overprescribing
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the Department of Health, NI; DHSC; DWP; MHRA; and NAO - as well as parliamentary pass-holders who attended from The House of Lords.
