The PDA’s Director of Public Affairs, Claire Ward recently attended a meeting in Parliament to discuss the opportunities and challenges for pharmacy and to highlight areas which the All-Party Group should focus on.
During the wide-ranging discussions which included representatives from across the pharmacy stakeholder spectrum, Claire had the opportunity to outline the PDA’s position on current issues for its members. These issues include the reform of supervision legislation, workforce matters, and proposals around an expanding role for pharmacy technicians.
Claire said, “There are several significant issues which are of concern to PDA members, particularly around their employment and professional practice. The roundtable was an opportunity to highlight the recent work of the Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group and the possibilities that its recommendations present to government. The group’s recent report considers community pharmacy’s future potential to improve patient care and continue supporting the NHS through a pharmaceutical care approach, ensuring the physical presence of a pharmacist in a community pharmacy, the appropriate use of skill mix, and enabling innovation around the preparation and assembly of prescriptions.
The PDA is also keen to engage Parliamentarians on issues affecting the employed and locum pharmacist workforce, such as alleviating workplace pressures and improving conditions.
We are also hearing from members about the proposals for pharmacy technicians working with PGDs and will be responding to the current consultation in due course outlining their feedback, which is based on concerns around patient safety, competency, and the consistency and quality of training”.
The PDA will continue to engage with elected representatives on these and other matters to ensure that the voice of employed and locum pharmacists is heard and considered in all UK Parliaments.
Great meeting of the @APPGPharmacy today chaired by @TaiwoOwatemi discussing the workforce & funding pressures and the needed reforms with stakeholders. @UKParliament#pharmacy pic.twitter.com/JSgQitbvJx
— All-Party Pharmacy Group (@APPGPharmacy) September 19, 2023
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