RPS Director for England Amandeep Doll gave evidence today at the Health and Social Care Select Committee session on workforce and Neighbourhood Health.

Speaking alongside the Royal College of GPs and The Queen's Institute of Community Nursing, Amandeep highlighted key measures which should be included in the forthcoming NHS long-term workforce plan to help deliver the Government’s ambition to shift more patient care from hospitals into the community.

Topics discussed included:

• Steps to support recruitment and retention to meet demand for pharmacists’ expertise
• 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.

RPS Director for England Amandeep Doll said:

“Medicines and workforce are the two biggest areas of spend for the NHS.

“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.

“Medicines are the most common clinical intervention and help keep people healthy and out of hospital. 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.

“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.”

Earlier this month, RPS also gave evidence to two Lords select committees on medicines security and assisted dying.

Watch a clip of Amandeep giving evidence to the committee:

 

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