English Policies and Consultations

The RPS England team produces policies and consultation responses in England, and contributes to GB-wide policies and consultations where they are relevant in England.

1. Open Consultations in England

England only

• CORE20PLUS5 approach to reducing health inequalities | NHSE/I
• Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: safe prescribing and withdrawal management for adults

To comment on any of these consultations, email [email protected]

GB consultations relevant to England

• Changes to requirements for training as a pharmacist independent prescriber | GPHC
• Amending the Road Traffic Act 1988 to allow registered healthcare professionals to complete DVLA medical questionnaires

To comment on any of these consultations, email [email protected]

2. Policies in development

• Hub and Spoke: New RPS position statement on the use of hub and spoke for community pharmacies.

To help us develop this policy, email [email protected]

3. Policies

• COVID-19 vaccinations for pharmacists (GB)
• Pharmacist Independent Prescribing (GB)
• The role of pharmacy in mental health and wellbeing (GB)
• Using community pharmacists to support people with cancer (England)
• Using pharmacists to help improve care for people with Type II diabetes (England)
• Future of pharmacy in a sustainable NHS (GB)
• Online pharmacy services (GB)
• Medicines shortages (GB)
• Brexit (GB)

Link to all our policies

4. Recent consultations from 2021

December 2021

RPS response to consultation on Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: safe prescribing and withdrawal management for adults  | NICE                                                              

October 2021

• RPS response to consultation on Extending free PPE to the health and care sector
• RPS response to Making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector | DHSC
• RPS response to T level outline consultation: Pharmacy Services Specialism | Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
• RPS response to draft guideline consultation on Mental wellbeing at work  | NICE

September 2021

• Joint CPA & RPS Consultation Response Health Education England Global Strategy Refresh 2022-2025  | HEE (England)
• RPS response to MHRA Point of Care Manufacture Consultation | MHRA
• RPS response to consultation on Expanding access to Naloxone | DHSC

August 2021

• Response to Collective Force for Health and Wellbeing Consultation: Refreshed action plan  | COSLA (GB)
• Consultation on Aligning prescription charges with the State Pension Age  | DHSC (England)

July 2021

• Consultation on the equality, diversity and inclusion strategy | GPhC
• NHSX Data Strategy Survey | NHSX (England)

June 2021

• Consultation on how we set fees for pharmacy professionals | GPhC (GB)
• Nuromol Dual Action Pain Relief 200mg/500mg tablets (ibuprofen/paracetamol) consultation | MHRA (GB)
• Regulating healthcare professionals, protecting the public | DHSC (GB)
• Women's Health Strategy: Call for Evidence | DHSC (England)

May 2021

• Private coronavirus (COVID-19) testing validation | DHSC (England)
• Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management (update) | NICE (England)
• Indicators for antidepressant prescribing and dementia | NICE (England)
• National Healthcare Uniform Workforce Consultation  | NHS Supply Chain (England) 

April 2021

• Reviewing our process for health technology evaluation - NICE (England)
• Guideline on weight management - NICE (England)
• Call for evidence – Barriers to research for controlled drugs (excluding synthetic cannabinoids) - ACMD (GB)

March 2021

• Strategy Consultation - CQC (England)
• Draft design principles – clinical and care professional leadership in Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) - NHS Confederation (England)
• White Paper on health and social care - House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee Department (England)
• NHS Provider Selection regime: Consultation on proposals - NHS (England)

February 2021

• Home use of both pills for early medical abortion - DHSC (England)
• Shared Decision Making - NICE (England)
• Transformation of Urgent and Emergency Care - NHS (England)
• Guidance for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services for the Perioperative Care of Elective and Urgent Care Patients Consultation - RCoA (GB)

January 2021

• Your views: building a strong, integrated care system across England - NHS England (England)
• Managing concerns about pharmacy professionals: Our strategy for change - GPhC (GB)
• Workplace health: long-term sickness absence and capability to work - NICE (England)

Link to all our consultation responses