What's Happening?
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has unveiled its strategic goals for 2025-2028, aimed at advancing pharmacy services in Wales. These goals are part of the broader 2030 vision titled 'Pharmacy: delivering a healthier Wales.' The initiative builds on the progress made since the vision's inception in 2019, focusing on enhancing clinical services closer to home and implementing electronic prescribing across all settings. The goals include embedding prevention and wellbeing, transforming aseptic services, increasing patient access to pharmacist independent prescribers, expanding the skill mix of pharmacy teams, and creating innovative career pathways. The RPS engaged over 500 stakeholders, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, support staff, students, patient representatives, and healthcare partners, to shape these goals. The initiative aims to ensure equitable access to care across Wales, regardless of location or method of access.
Why It's Important?
The new goals set by the RPS are significant as they aim to transform pharmacy services in Wales, ensuring that patients receive more accessible and efficient care. By focusing on electronic prescribing and expanding the role of pharmacist independent prescribers, the initiative seeks to modernize healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes. This transformation is crucial in addressing the ongoing pressures faced by the healthcare workforce, providing them with the tools and pathways necessary to deliver high-quality care. The initiative also highlights the importance of collaboration among pharmacy teams and healthcare partners, ensuring that the needs of patients and the workforce are met. The successful implementation of these goals could serve as a model for other regions, promoting innovation and efficiency in pharmacy services.
What's Next?
The Welsh government has announced that the electronic prescription service (EPS) is now available in 70% of pharmacies, with plans to fully roll out the service by November 2026. This development marks a significant step forward in healthcare digitalization, facilitating the transfer of over a million prescriptions electronically between GPs and pharmacies each month. The continued progress of the 'Pharmacy: delivering a healthier Wales' program will be monitored by the program delivery board and its subgroups, ensuring that the goals remain focused and aligned with the overarching 2030 vision. Stakeholders, including the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, express optimism about the profession's commitment to driving forward these goals.
Beyond the Headlines
The initiative by the RPS not only aims to improve healthcare delivery but also addresses broader issues such as workforce development and innovation in pharmaceutical care. By expanding the skill mix of pharmacy teams and supporting research and development, the initiative encourages a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare, fostering collaboration and innovation. The focus on prevention and wellbeing reflects a shift towards proactive healthcare, aiming to reduce the burden on hospitals and improve overall public health. These efforts contribute to the long-term sustainability of healthcare services in Wales, ensuring that they can adapt to future challenges and continue to meet the needs of the population.
