The PDA welcomes the news that as of 31 March 2025, one third (33%) of all pharmacists in Great Britain are now qualified as independent prescribers (IPs). This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the pharmacy profession and reflects the commitment of pharmacists to develop advanced clinical skills that can improve patient care and alleviate pressures on the wider health system.
We particularly note the accelerated growth in Wales (44%) and Scotland (48%), which continues to outpace England (32%). These differences mirror long-standing regional variations in workforce investment and structured clinical service implementation. However, while the statistics appear promising on the surface, the reality facing many pharmacist IPs is far more complex.
A milestone without a map
Despite government rhetoric around shifting care “closer to home” and into community settings including the development of a prescribing service, there remains a lack of clarity and consistent policy direction about how IPs are to be effectively and safely deployed. The PDA has repeatedly raised concerns that newly qualified IPs, particularly those graduating from university from 2026 onwards, are entering the profession without clearly defined roles or established support frameworks in place.
The absence of robust career pathways or protected prescribing roles within most community pharmacy settings continues to be a major barrier. Many pharmacists are qualifying as IPs only to find that their skills are underutilised or unsupported in the workplace.
This disconnect risks demoralising skilled professionals and squandering public investment in training
Unrealised potential in pathfinder sites
The PDA remains concerned about the lack of transparency and national evaluation of the IP Pathfinder Programme in England. We have yet to see a meaningful, evidence-based assessment of how these pilots are working in practice, or whether they are scalable, equitable, and safe for wider rollout. Without this, policymakers are making assumptions about workforce capability and service models that may not be grounded in reality. The lack of evaluation also hampers shared learning and risks repeating mistakes as prescribing becomes more embedded in frontline care.
Access barriers: DPPs and university places
The rapid expansion of IPs must not come at the cost of quality, equity or safety. Unfortunately, access to prescribing training is still constrained by two major bottlenecks:
- Insufficient numbers of Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs)
Pharmacists across all sectors, particularly in community settings, continue to report difficulties in securing a DPP, or having to face big personal financial commitments to pay DPPs for their services. The current over-reliance on GPs or existing pharmacist IPs with capacity is unsustainable and limits access to training for a broader cohort of pharmacists.
- Limited and unfunded university places
Even when potential DPPs are found, many pharmacists are unable to secure a funded place at a university or are expected to self-fund courses. This introduces structural inequality into access to professional development, often disadvantaging those in self-employed circumstances or small, independent or under-resourced settings. Increasingly though, the PDA is also hearing about those in ARRS primary care roles in some areas also struggling to access IP training at local Universities.
Mental wellbeing: A growing concern
The pressures faced by pharmacists are not only professional but also personal.
A change in role, for example stepping up to be an IP, can have a significant impact on their mental health. The effects are shaped by various factors, including the nature of the role change, the level of support provided, the individual’s coping mechanisms, and the work environment.
The 2024 Workforce Wellbeing Survey by Pharmacist Support revealed alarming trends. Amongst others, a significant proportion of pharmacists reported heightened stress levels, with many attributing this to increased workloads and the challenges of adapting to new roles such as IP.
These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to support the mental wellbeing of pharmacists, ensuring they can provide the best care to patients without compromising their own health, especially when progressing into the role as an IP.
A parallel and concerning trend: Private prescribing clinics and online risks
Alongside the growth in NHS-facing pharmacist prescribing, we are seeing a parallel and less regulated rise in private online prescribing clinics, many of which operate outside the rigorous standards expected of NHS services. The PDA has seen examples of prescribing activity in such environments that raise serious concerns about patient safety, professional accountability, and the risk of harm.
Many of these clinics, often offering quick online consultations or private cosmetic services, fall through regulatory gaps. This can lead to prescribing without adequate patient history, lack of continuity of care, and limited oversight, all of which undermine public trust and the credibility of pharmacist-led prescribing.
Supporting safe and sustainable prescribing
The PDA believes that independent prescribing has enormous potential to enhance patient access, optimise medicines use, and relieve burden on GPs and hospitals. But this potential can only be realised if prescribing roles are developed safely, equitably and strategically.
A pharmacist’s ability to prescribe effectively requires a defined role, a suitable service model, and a robust system in place to support their prescribing activities. This includes ensuring the necessary infrastructure, tools, and support are available to allow pharmacists to practice safely and effectively.
We therefore repeat our calls for:
- A national strategy for deploying pharmacist independent prescribers across care settings with a focus on pharmacy services integration.
- Expansion of funded IP places at universities, prioritising those in underserved areas and those working in underrepresented sectors.
- Increased investment in DPP training and support, including cross-sector mentoring.
- Evaluation of IP Pathfinder sites and publication of transparent outcome data.
- Regulatory attention to the rise of private and online prescribing environments.
- Enhanced mental health support for pharmacists, including access to counselling services, stress management resources, and peer support groups.
Without these measures, we risk building a highly qualified workforce with no meaningful outlet for its skills, while simultaneously exposing patients to new and emerging risks.
By Jay Badenhorst, PDA Director of Pharmacy
References
- Pharmacist Support (2025). 2024 Workforce Wellbeing Survey Report. [Available from: https://pharmacistsupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-WWB-Survey-Report-Final.pdf]
- Department of Health and Social Care (2023). Primary Care Recovery Plan.
- NHS England (2023). Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme Briefing.
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Inspection reports and regulatory updates.
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