Since 1948, the NHS has been providing free healthcare to all and throughout the decades, has pioneered new treatments and delivered huge medical advances, such as performing Europe’s first liver transplant and creating the world’s first IVF baby.
However, in recent years the NHS has been facing mounting challenges. The PDA believes it’s crucial that the new government tackles these issues effectively and immediately to secure sustainability for the NHS and social care
The NHS has had a significant impact on the nation, with over 1.6 million interactions with patients within the NHS per day on average. Prescribing medicines is the most common medical intervention, and pharmacists significantly contribute to patient care across all parts of the system.
Last month, the PDA launched its manifesto, which highlighted the importance of pharmacists in the delivery of NHS care. The manifesto asks the new government to focus on enhancing patient safety around medicines, improving access to safe and effective NHS care for patients, and supporting the vital pharmacist workforce.
The manifesto also calls for an NHS and care system that is fit for all, by:
- Ensuring the appropriate care is delivered at the right time and place by an appropriately trained healthcare professional
- Keeping the NHS free at the point of use, including the abolition of prescription charges in England, aligning with elsewhere in the UK
- Focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion for all staff and patients so they feel more comfortable at work and when accessing NHS services
- Supporting a zero-tolerance approach to violence and abuse in pharmacy.
The NHS is built on the foundations of its dedicated workforce. The PDA would like to thank its members and everyone contributing to NHS healthcare for their fantastic work and determination to put the needs of patients first.
Jay Badenhorst, Director of Pharmacy at the PDA said, “As the NHS marks its 76th anniversary, we honour its legacy of unwavering dedication and care. We celebrate the expanding role of pharmacists and the strength of our diverse workforce, united in their mission to create a healthier, brighter future for all patients. We hope the new government will uphold this legacy and further support the growth of pharmacists’ roles.”
On the NHS’s 76th anniversary, the PDA hopes that the new government is prepared to do all it can to enact effective reforms and invest sustainably in the workforce and infrastructure to ensure that the NHS can continue to provide free care and support.
Read the PDA’s Manifesto document here
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Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.