I’ve written a lot over the past couple of years on how pharmacists are not being used to their full potential. But, if you want to understand why the pharmacy profession has not realised its full potential, then look no further than the bewildering array of representative bodies and lack of a simple, coherent messaging…
If you ask ChatGPT to name the representative for pharmacists in the UK, you get the following list:
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) – The professional leadership body for pharmacists in England, Scotland, and Wales, focusing on advocacy, professional development, and policy influence.
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) – The regulatory body for pharmacy professionals and premises in Great Britain, ensuring pharmacists meet professional standards.
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) – The regulatory and professional body for pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
National Pharmacy Association (NPA) – Represents independent community pharmacies across the UK, providing support, training, and advocacy.
Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) – Represents large pharmacy chains (e.g., Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, and Well Pharmacy) in the UK.
Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp) – Represents small to medium-sized pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies.
Pharmacy Forum NI – The professional leadership body for pharmacists in Northern Ireland.
Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP) – Represents pharmacists working in hospitals and other healthcare settings, affiliated with the Unite trade union.
Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA) – Supports pharmacists working in primary care, including GP practices, PCNs, and integrated care settings.
Pharmacy Defence Association (PDA) – Provides legal and professional support, indemnity insurance, and advocacy for pharmacists.
Scottish Pharmacy Board (RPS Scotland), Welsh Pharmacy Board (RPS Wales), and English Pharmacy Board (RPS England) – These are divisions of the RPS focused on regional pharmacy issues.
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) – Now rebranded as Community Pharmacy England (CPE), it negotiates the community pharmacy contract with the NHS in England.
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) – Negotiates on behalf of community pharmacy contractors in Scotland.
Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) – Represents community pharmacies in negotiations with NHS Wales.
Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) – Represents community pharmacies in Northern Ireland in contract negotiations.
British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA) – Represents pharmacy students and pre-registration trainees across the UK.
In addition to this already long list of bodies, pharmacy contractors (owners or businesses that operate pharmacies) in the UK are represented by various bodies that negotiate and advocate on their behalf. These include:
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) (formerly PSNC – Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee) – Represents and negotiates on behalf of community pharmacy contractors in England with the NHS and the government.
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) – Negotiates the NHS pharmacy contract and represents community pharmacy contractors in Scotland.
Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) – Represents pharmacy contractors in Wales in negotiations with NHS Wales and the government.
Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) – Represents and negotiates on behalf of pharmacy contractors in Northern Ireland.
National Pharmacy Association (NPA) – Represents independent community pharmacy contractors across the UK, offering support, lobbying, and professional guidance.
Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) – Represents large multiple pharmacy chains such as Boots, LloydsPharmacy, and Well Pharmacy.
Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp) – Represents medium-sized independent pharmacy chains (typically those with 5+ branches) across the UK.
- Independent Pharmacies Association – Represents the interest of pharmacy owners with one or more pharmacies.
Since the introduction of ARRS, clinical pharmacists have been consistently the most in demand role. And, with so much change on the horizon in primary care I don’t see this demand falling.
But rather than reacting to change, pharmacists, when used correctly, can be central to driving the change to neighbourhood health.
So, what’s the solution? Well, let’s look at other areas of healthcare as an example. If you want the view of Doctors or nurses, where do you go? The BMA or the RCN—simples!
Similarly, we need a single voice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and one for pharmacy businesses (because the needs of the two groups are very different) to create a joined up approach to upcoming change.
