Press Release

Rapid growth of independent prescribing showcased in Wales

RPS Wales has joined forces with Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and Community Pharmacy Wales in publishing a graphic illustration of the importance and growth in independent prescribing across the Welsh community pharmacy network.

The publication demonstrates how independent prescribing services in the community have developed at pace in each of the seven Local Health Board areas across Wales. The growth in prescribing services for acute conditions, medicines withdrawal and contraception is highlighted in the infographic showing that during the past year over 16,000 patient consultations have been undertaken across the community pharmacy network.

The development of pharmacist independent prescribing services in the community is a key part of the strategic plan Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales. This aims to transform patient care and ensure patients can access an independent prescriber in every community pharmacy in Wales by 2030.

The success of the prescribing services to date reveals an exciting future for pharmacist independent prescribing across Wales.  The illustration shows the potential that community pharmacy can have in supporting patients and supporting capacity across the NHS. Currently 33 of the 713 community pharmacies are commissioned to deliver independent prescribing services in Wales

Commenting on the publication of the infographic Jonathan Lloyd Jones from Royal Pharmaceutical Society Wales said: “Displaying this data in such an easy to understand way shows not only what community pharmacy can do, but what they are able to do in the future.

"As the number of independent prescribers grows, the size of the numbers will expand significantly. All partners want to see the data depicted here growing significantly and are committed to collaboration to ensure this happens.”

Judy Thomas from Community Pharmacy Wales added: “The growth in independent prescribing is making a real difference to the people of Wales as more and more community pharmacies are able to offer these services.

"The community pharmacy network is committed to the objective of all pharmacies having an independent prescriber, as detailed in Pharmacy Delivering a Healthier Wales, which is a vision document for the future sharing common goals between government, health boards and pharmacists.”

The independent prescribing infographic can be viewed here.

Further information about our policy and recommendations for independent prescribing please can be seen here.

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