The government have announced plans to modernise pharmacy supervision rules, allowing registered pharmacy technicians to take greater responsibility and enable pharmacists to focus more on frontline patient care.
It is hoped this will give pharmacies greater flexibility in how they deploy their staff, therefore freeing up pharmacist time to deliver more clinical services and help advise patients on prevention as well as sickness, in line with the NHS 10-Year Plan.
It is expected to come into effect by the end of 2025 and the bulk of the measures will have a one-year transition period to allow for the development of professional standards and guidance.
It aims to:
- expand who can supervise the dispensing of medicines
- empower the pharmacy workforce to deliver better care
- unlock clinical expertise, so communities are served more effectively by their local pharmacy
- improve care in the community and reducing pressure on the NHS
These further measures will help transition community pharmacy from being largely focused on dispensing medicines to becoming integral to the Neighbourhood Health Service, supporting the shift from hospital to community set out in the 10 Year Heath Plan.
By freeing up pharmacists’ time, we hope this will allow for the better utilisation of rapid diagnostics in pharmacies to help manage patients’ conditions and provide vital diagnoses outside of GP surgeries.
