The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales has given oral evidence to the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into the future of general practice.

Representing RPS Wales were Helen Davies and Liz Hallett, both members of the Welsh Pharmacy Board with extensive experience working within general practice. They stressed the importance of patients being able to access the most appropriate healthcare professional for their needs, with pharmacists being best placed to provide expert medicines care.

During the joint session, alongside colleagues from Community Pharmacy Wales, Helen and Liz highlighted pharmacists’ role in:

• Improving medicines safety and reducing prescribing errors
• Managing polypharmacy for complex patients and those with multiple chronic conditions
• Supporting safe deprescribing to reduce harm, side effects, and medicines waste
• Providing long-term condition management
• Leading medicines optimisation to ensure treatments are effective and cost-efficient.

They also set out what is needed to enable pharmacists to deliver this potential, including:

• Consistent and sustainable funding with clear support for roles and career development
• Strategic workforce planning to address workload pressures and reduce burnout across all sectors of pharmacy
• Investment in pharmacy technicians, digital tools, and suitable consultation space so pharmacists can work at the top of their licence
• Stronger integration of pharmacists into NHS service planning
• Effective ways of raising public and professional awareness of pharmacists’ role within the multidisciplinary team.

Liz Hallett, said:
“Pharmacists are already making a real difference in general practice. However, their skills are still not always fully recognised. If we want safe, sustainable care for patients, we need investment in pharmacists at every stage of their career and the right infrastructure around them. Along with the committee’s inquiry, the forthcoming Welsh Government-commissioned review led by RPS is a unique opportunity to make sure future policy reflects this.”

Helen Davies, said:
“Our expertise in medicines is unique and essential to the future of general practice and patient care. From managing complex conditions to improving safety and preventing harm, pharmacists are often the most appropriate professional for patients to see. We hope the committee will recognise our calls and reflect them in its final recommendations.”

The Society’s evidence will help inform the committee’s final recommendations to the Welsh Government.

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