The upcoming workforce plan is a ‘golden opportunity’ to fulfil the government’s ambition to expand independent prescribing (IP) services, health experts have said.
But the Nuffield Trust think tank told Healthcare Leader there was a ‘huge gap’ between ambition and reality that needed to be bridged before that aim can be realised.
Its comments come after the government last month announced that the Pharmacy First programme will be expanded to include IP as part of the new community pharmacy contract for 2026/27.
But a new survey found almost six-in-10 community pharmacies do not plan to provide expanded IP services.
Nuffield Trust researcher Sophie Julian said the survey’s findings came as ‘little surprise’ given community pharmacies face the greatest barriers to getting the most out of independent prescribing.
But Ms Julian said that the upcoming workforce plan, which health secretary James Murray has said will be ‘published shortly’, provides an opportunity to expand the independent prescribing workforce.
She added: ‘If the government’s aim to expand the independent prescribing workforce is to be realised, the huge gap between ambition and reality must be bridged.
‘The upcoming NHS workforce plan provides a golden opportunity to make this possible.
‘It must set out clearly the role prescribers will play within neighbourhood teams, and plans must be based on local population needs.
‘Better monitoring of independent prescribing practice in all settings will also be crucial.’
A survey of the Independent Pharmacies Association’s (IPA) members, covering 3,500 pharmacies across England and Wales, found that only 12.6% of pharmacies currently plan to implement the proposed IP-led services.
This compared to 57.5% that said they do not intend to introduce the services under the new proposals, while 29.9% were undecided.
The IPA said the findings suggest ‘widespread concern’ across the sector about the practical and financial viability of delivering the new services.
IPA chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck said: ‘Community pharmacies want to do more for patients and support the government’s ambition to deliver more care closer to home, and agree that IP is the right step forward for the profession.
‘However, our survey shows there are serious concerns about whether independent prescribing services are financially viable under the current arrangements.’
The Nuffield Trust has previously warned of a ‘significant gap between reality and the ambition’ to increase the IP workforce.
In a report published in April, the think tank found that current arrangements for funding, supervision and regulation ‘may not be fit for purpose’ as the IP workforce expands.
Ms Julian told Healthcare Leader: ‘Our research shows that pharmacies in community settings face the greatest barriers to getting the most out of independent prescribing.
‘It can be difficult for trainees to access support from a designated prescribing practitioner, and a lack of opportunities to maintain prescribing skills disincentivises and demotivates staff.’
