RPS in England today welcomed the publication of the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan, setting out modelling of NHS workforce demand and supply for the next 15 years.

The plan covers the whole of pharmacy, following sustained engagement from the RPS and pharmacy leaders including a joint letter to the Health Secretary in December signed by 14 pharmacy organisations.

The workforce plan addresses three priority areas of education and training, staff retention, and reforms such as use of technology and delivering more services in the community. A letter from Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England David Webb has also been published alongside the plan.

Key measures include:

• Education and training places for pharmacists are estimated to need to grow by 31–55% to meet the demand for pharmacy services. The plan sets out an ambition to increase training places for pharmacists by nearly 50% to around 5,000 places by 2031/32.
• Potential to continue expanding training via the apprenticeship route for pharmacy technicians and consideration of a pharmacist degree apprenticeship.
• Opportunities for pharmacists to use independent prescribing skills in community pharmacy.
• Increased access to prescribing supervision, including plans to train more Designated Prescribing Practitioners.
• Enabling pharmacy technicians to supply medicines and services through Patient Group Directions.
• An extension of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, taking into account additional training of pharmacists to ensure the growth in workforce is sustainable.

Tase Oputu, Chair of Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, said:

“Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy teams will be crucial to reducing health inequalities and supporting the health service of the future so that patients can continue to access the medicines and care they need.

“Improved workforce planning is fundamental to making this happen by ensuring that we have the staff and skills we need to support patient care.

“With pharmacists delivering more clinical services and with growing numbers of pharmacist independent prescribers, it’s encouraging to see the plan commit to investing in pharmacy education and training.

"Pharmacy teams across the health service are under enormous pressure and if we want to recruit and retain the staff we need, it is vital they get the support they deserve.

“Pharmacy teams tell us they also need protected time for learning and development, as well as for contributing to research or developing new services, alongside measures to reduce staff burnout.

“We all want to see improved support for our workforce so we can keep looking after patients. How this plan is put into practice, backed by long-term funding, will be key to its success.”

Workforce is a core element of the Vision for Pharmacy Practice in England, developed with The King’s Fund, including:

• The need for improved workforce planning and data collection
• Supporting career development for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
• Formal recognition of post-education registration and training
• Supporting the health and wellbeing of pharmacy teams
• Inclusion and diversity across the profession and creating a culture of belonging.

Watch RPS England give evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s inquiry on workforce.

Read more RPS news stories.