A detailed write-up of that roundtable discussion is now available for general view. You can access the report here.
Among the themes to emerge at the roundtable were:
The need for a clearer national direction from the NHS, while retaining flexibility in how services are developed and delivered according to local need and capability.
Learning from the devolved nations - the opportunity for England to learn from the more established experience of prescribing in other nations - Scotland and Wales.
All future developments on independent prescribing to be patient-centred, outcomes-focused and practical in terms of implementation across different parts of the system.
NPA Vice Chair, Sukhi Basra, who chaired the roundtable, said:
“Independent prescribing represents one of the greatest opportunities community pharmacy has had in many years, although significant obstacles to roll-out remain.
“As more pharmacists qualify as prescribers, we have a great chance to bring more care out of hospital and into the community, to improve access for patients and make better use of capacity across the health system.
“I have seen the difference this can make in my own practice. As a prescriber, I am able to support patients in ways that were not previously possible. Consultations that might once have required a referral or a long wait can now be completed there and then.
“When that potential is considered across thousands of pharmacies, the benefit for patients and the NHS could be enormous.”
The next and final stage of this project will be the publication on 24 September of a Framework and Roadmap for the expansion of pharmacist independent prescribing over the next three years. We encourage those that want to find out more to attend our virtual event - please find out more and register here.
