Primary care

RPS chair: GP practice role will help develop clinical future for the profession

Creating opportunities in general practice for pharmacists will allow to the profession to adopt a greater clinical role in care, says the English Pharmacy Board chair David Branford.…

NHS England calls for assessment of pharmacists’ skills for GP practice role

Deputy chief pharmaceutical officer warns NHS not to introduce pharmacists in GP surgeries initiative in a “reckless” manner, and says skills and training requirements must be assessed first.…

How changes to UK flexible working laws affect pharmacists

Kevin McKenna, head of employment law at Kuits Solicitors in Manchester, explains how changes to laws on flexible working have affected employers and employees.…

Pharmacists in GP practices is a vital next step for the profession – but it’s not the only one we need

Opportunities for pharmacists to work within general practice teams will be an important new role for the profession, but integration with primary care needs to go further still, argues Elizabeth Butterfield, RPS English Pharmacy Board member.…

Employ thousands of pharmacists in GP surgeries, urge professions’ leaders

Professional leadership bodies for pharmacists and GPs jointly call for practices in England to hire pharmacists in clinical roles to address growing pressure on GP services.…

Setting up a pre-registration placement at a clinical commissioning group

Pharmacists in Leeds have created a new pre-registration placement, where trainees split their time between a clinical commissioning group (CCG) and a hospital. Sue Alldred, care homes pharmacist at Leeds South and East CCG, describes the process.…

Whistleblowing guardians should be appointed within NHS organisations, Francis says

NHS organisations should appoint whistleblowing guardians to support staff who have concerns about poor care and staff who whistleblow should have more protection from recrimination, a report by Sir Robert Francis says.…

Look sharp! How to dress so you look professional, presentable and approachable in a pharmacy

Do you need to wear a white coat to be taken seriously? Sasa Jankovic finds out that it is attitude more than appearance that influences customers’ perceptions of you.…

Pensions in the UK: different ways pharmacists can save for retirement

The way that people can access their pensions is changing in April, when new rules will give retirees with defined contribution pension savings the option to take the money as cash, rather than have it tied into an annuity. But how do you decide what kind of retirement plan is right for you?…

Helping newly registered pharmacists to work in general practice

Newly registered pharmacists have been given the opportunity to work with GPs in southern England as part of a programme run by a consortium of GP surgeries. Ravi Sharma, senior primary care pharmacist and quality assurance lead, explains how the programme was set up and what it has achieved.…