How community pharmacists are tackling a wave of abuse Threats, racist behaviour and physical violence are a regular part of working life for pharmacy teams across the country. Here’s how some are protecting themselves, the trade-offs of increased security and why broader action is needed.…
PDA warns of ‘concerning’ decline in community pharmacists per pharmacy The number of full-time equivalent pharmacists working in community pharmacy has reduced from 20,255 in 2021 to 17,415 in 2025, a PDA report says.…
Growth in Pharmacy First consultations ‘not sustainable’ The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has highlighted that there are still fewer pharmacies open for fewer hours, despite a steady increase in the number of prescriptions and pharmacy-led services.…
Proposed standards for responsible and superintendent pharmacists ‘risk patient safety’ The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has called for the proposed standards to “explicitly prohibit the use of authorisation to facilitate remote supervision”.…
Prescribing pathfinders: what’s stopping community pharmacy delivering care for long-term conditions? A closer look at the University of Manchester’s evaluation of NHS England’s pathfinder project.…
More than two-thirds of locums have experienced a drop in available shifts, survey finds The Pharmacists’ Defence Association survey also found that locum pharmacists were working less than they would like to.…
PDA to recommend a ‘no’ vote to RPS royal college proposals unless current ballot is cancelled The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has said the vote should be delayed to allow proposals “to be reconsidered and amended where necessary”.…
More than 90% of pharmacists oppose self-selection of P medicines, says PDA The Pharmacists’ Defence Association says any potential changes to current regulations “should only be made following full consultation with pharmacists, ensuring decisions align with best practices in medicine safety and patient care”.…
Pharmacists say more staff needed if Pharmacy First is to expand A survey carried out by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association has revealed that 93% of pharmacists have not seen a staffing increase since Pharmacy First was launched.…
PDA criticises pharmacy regulator for ‘failing to use data effectively’ to bridge attainment gap The Pharmacists’ Defence Association said in a consultation response that it was “not confident the General Pharmaceutical Council will use any additional data to deliver meaningful improvement and change to the experience or outcomes for students”.…
