RPS President, Professor Claire Anderson, recently visited pharmacy teams in South Wales to see first‑hand how community and hospital pharmacy services are delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care and driving forward the ambitions of pharmacy’s 2030 vision in Wales. She was joined on the visit by RPS Director for Wales, Dr Geraldine McCaffrey.
The day began at Nanty Pharmacy in Maesteg, where Professor Anderson met with contractor and independent prescriber Anna Mathews. Anna shared her journey as a young pharmacy owner and the work she and her small team have done to embed the pharmacy at the heart of the local community, expanding clinical services and supporting patients through accessible and warm patient-centred care.
In the afternoon, Professor Anderson and Dr McCaffrey travelled to Morriston Hospital, where they were welcomed by the pharmacy leadership team and colleagues from across the department. The visit included demonstrations of the hospital’s medicines automation systems, electronic controlled drug management, and the near‑miss learning processes used to support continuous improvement in patient safety.
Professor Anderson also met clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working within Cardiology, the VTE pharmacist‑led service, the Surgical Pharmacy Hub and the Emergency Department. Teams highlighted how redesigned pathways, digital tools and the integration of independent prescribing pharmacists as core members of multidisciplinary teams are improving patient outcomes and enhancing the efficiency of care.
Commenting on the visit, Professor Anderson said:
“As a graduate of Cardiff University, it’s always a pleasure to return to Wales and spend time with pharmacy teams who are delivering such impressive work across both community and hospital settings.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the teams at Nanty Pharmacy and Morriston Hospital for such a warm welcome and for taking the time to share the fantastic work they are doing. Across both visits, it was inspiring to see the dedication, innovation and patient‑centred care that underpin their services. Our conversations also underlined the pressures facing community and hospital pharmacy at the moment and hearing how teams are navigating these challenges was incredibly valuable. It’s essential that these vital parts of our health service receive the support they need to thrive.
“As I approach the end of my term as RPS President, days like this remind me just how much expertise, passion and commitment to patient care there is across our profession. Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with us. The insights from today’s visits will stay with me, and it was a privilege to see the impact pharmacy teams are making for patients and communities in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.”
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