The in-depth report has been developed because, in recent years as the pressure upon the NHS has been increasing, the government has been looking at ways to improve the accessibility to healthcare in the UK, to meet the needs of the public. The government has been considering the unexploited possibilities that are available through skill mix and in community pharmacy and has been placing emphasis on the greater utilisation of pharmacy technicians.
In response to this government led initiative, this report seeks to set a sensible vision for the future development of pharmacist and pharmacy technician practice in community pharmacy and proposes ways in which this can be done.
Before publishing the full report, in order to cover all the key topics which needed consideration, the report was broken down into discussion points, analysing key considerations and the PDA’s reasoning behind each recommendation for improvements. Now that each section has been released separately, the full report is available to read in its entirety.
Download the full report here
The PDA undertook this project as part of its work on exploring a successful long-term strategy for pharmacy in the UK. If the pharmacy workforce in community pharmacy in particular could be reconfigured and improved, then this would enable the profession to take on many new, professionally fulfilling and exciting opportunities.
In the report, the PDA makes various recommendations and describes a way forward which could be embraced to:
- Unify pharmacists and pharmacy technicians behind a common vision and purpose, based on shared interests and mutual benefit.
- Develop more rewarding, fulfilling roles for both groups, including enhanced clinical roles, which make more appropriate use of their respective skills.
- Establish a symbiotic, complementary and effective skill mix model in community pharmacy.
- Create rewarding career frameworks, supported by skills and salary escalators and appropriate remuneration.
- Enhance patient care and safety, improve governance and regulation, develop the UK healthcare infrastructure and reduce the burden both on community pharmacy and other areas of the NHS such as GP surgeries and secondary care.
For more information, visit: www.the-pda.org/pharmacy-technicians.