Major reforms to how pharmacists are trained in the UK will see them able to write prescriptions as soon as they become registered.

Scotland’s pharmacists are to play ‘a much greater role’ in providing clinical care to patients thanks to new standards for training.  

The changes are geared towards developing ‘adaptable’ pharmacists, says the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the body that approved the new standards, so ‘diverse and changing’ patient needs can be met.

In a joint statement with her counterparts from across the UK, Scotland’s interim Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Alison Strath said: “This important and welcome decision by the General Pharmaceutical Council is a landmark in the development of the pharmacy profession which will markedly change the future of the pharmacy practice and, most importantly, the care of patients. 

“Pharmacists becoming independent prescribers at the point of registration is overdue and this alone will demand significant change across the entirety of pharmacist initial education and training, including much more ‘hands on’ clinical training.”

She added: “There will be many challenges as we move through the next year or two, but I’m confident we can all work together to build a consensus on how to implement these changes for the benefit of patients. 

“We’re also committed to ensuring the whole profession, including existing pharmacists, students and trainees, has opportunities to move forwards together, through ongoing funded training and recognition of existing skills and experience, to deliver even better careers for all.”

Other changes include emphasising the application of science in clinical practice and a greater focus on key skills such as professional judgement, management of risk, diagnostic and consultation skills, including for remote consultations.

GPhC Chair Nigel Clarke said: “These once-in-a-generation reforms will enable future pharmacists to take on new and extended clinical roles and meet the needs of the public and the NHS.

“…Universities, employers and statutory education bodies will also be working together in new ways to give student pharmacists more clinical experience and provide enhanced support and quality assurance across all five years of education and training. 

“We would like to thank all of the key stakeholders involved for their help and support to get us to this point, and we will continue to work very closely with them to implement these significant changes. 

“We know implementing these reforms won’t be easy, but successfully delivering these reforms together will bring long-term benefits for the health service and patients and will help to meet the ambitions of governments and the NHS in each country across the UK. “

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