The publication of the long-awaited NHS plan is the culmination of extensive consultation with the public and stakeholders around how NHS services in England should be configured and delivered, and how a sustainable footing for the future can be secured.
Expansion of clinical roles
Over recent years, there has been an increase of pharmacists working in general practice and the 10-year plan also outlines a further expansion into clinical services for community pharmacy, transitioning from traditional dispensing to becoming a clinical hub, managing long‑term conditions including obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Pharmacists are seen as an integral part of new Neighbourhood Health Services, which will see a wider range of care and treatment being provided in local communities and in some cases under one roof. The plan sees pharmacists playing a vital role in shifting care closer to patients and reducing fragmentation.
Furthermore, pharmacists will also be at the forefront of providing enhanced public health and prevention roles, including vaccination programmes, screening services and smoking cessation programmes.
The PDA has long called for pharmacists being enabled to use their knowledge and skills in this way for the benefit of patient care and welcomes the recognition that pharmacists are integral to NHS service delivery. They must however be enabled to fulfil this aspiration through having a voice in the way that future services are designed and delivered.
While many of the announcements in the 10-year plan relate to potential opportunities for pharmacists working the community setting and primary care, the PDA is aware of concerns of some members. Some concerns relate to those working in Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and in other parts of the NHS, who are currently facing uncertainty around their roles.
The full details of how any of these new services and models will be configured and what the full impact might be are still to emerge.
Workforce
A sustainable workforce will be integral to the delivery of the NHS 10-year plan. As the new Neighbourhood Health Centres and other models are created and take on responsibilities, workload and inevitably recruit pharmacists, the PDA will be supporting its members in whatever organisation, role and location they practice.
As part of the NHS Staff Side and the Social Partnership Forum, the PDA’s union arm will work with government and employers to develop a new set of staff standards appropriate for modern employment. The PDA will help maintain, update, and reform employment contracts and actively participate in the conversation the government want to have about significant contractual changes that will provide modern incentives and rewards for high-quality and productive care. The government say they want to put the ‘joy’ back into working for the NHS, and the PDA fully supports that aspiration.
The PDA welcomes the ongoing work from NHS England about modern flexible working practices and that must be reality alongside the expansion of availability to patients.
Advocacy and support
The PDA will remain actively involved in monitoring progress and collaborating with key stakeholders as the NHS 10-Year Plan moves from concept to implementation, championing a fair, cooperative, and practical approach to ensure the perspectives of frontline pharmacists are clearly represented.
The PDA is also aware that some members will be concerned about possible changes in their employer/organisation which form part of these developments and recent announcements. Members can seek support on employment matters through their PDA Workplace Rep or by contacting the PDA Member Support Centre.
PDA Director of Policy & Communications, Alison Jones said, “If done right, this transformative plan has the potential to enable pharmacists to use all their clinical skills and knowledge to deliver better care for patients across all parts of the health system. That would be best for the country and would provide more fulfilling careers for the profession. We want to work positively with government and employers to see that become a reality.
However, this will also mean changes impacting pharmacists in hospital, community pharmacy, and across other parts of primary care. As their leadership body and trade union we will be supporting our members in all sectors before, during and after such transition.
We look forward to the corresponding workforce plan and further clarity on the other details of proposals which are mentioned in the plan.”
Learn more
- FIT FOR THE FUTURE: 10 Year Health Plan for England
- Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England – executive summary
- PDA’s response to Darzi Review
- ICB restructure: Model blueprint
- Commissioning support units to close
- PDA responds to announcement on future of NHS England
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