Today NHS England announced £4.5bn will be invested over five years from 2020 in general practice under the umbrella of the NHS Long Term Plan. By 2023-24, the aim is to recruit an extra 20,000 healthcare workers including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to transform the way health is delivered across England through new models of care.

It will put in place important new capability and capacity in primary care, of the type usually received by patients in hospitals, and will drive forward significantly multi-professional working. The report recognises that within Primary Care Networks a dedicated team of Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians who can undertake medication reviews, improving medicines optimisation and safety, supporting care homes, as well as running practice clinics. 

For more information, the full report can be found here. 

Tess Fenn APTUK President responded to the report and said “I am pleased to see the recognition in the report that pharmacy technician skills can contribute to the wider primary care team, building on the experience and evidence gained from the investment in Care Home Pharmacy Technicians. Pharmacy Technicians, as one of a number of professionals integrated in Primary Care Networks, will support patient care and contribute to improving the health of the population, carrying out medication reviews, supporting de-prescribing and antimicrobial stewardship. These are exciting opportunities, realised as a result of workforce pressures in general practice. It will be important to ensure that workforce strategies and education and training are developed to ensure these new opportunities can be delivered and that other sectors of practice continue to deliver quality pharmacy services. APTUK looks forward to supporting NHS England and other pharmacy organisations to realise these opportunities for the benefit of patients and the public”. 

England’s chief pharmaceutical officer Keith Ridge said the GP contract is “a boost for patient care and a tremendous vote of confidence in the pharmacy professions”. Read more here.