Developing the Vision

June 2017	The first call for a new long term strategy As part of the Senedd’s Public Account Committee Inquiry into Medicines Management, in our evidence to the committee RPS calls for a new long term strategy for pharmacy to be in place. This would replace the previous strategy drafted by RPS, Your Care, Your Medicines; after all its aims had been achieved.
March 2018	Senedd Committee Publishes Report Following consideration of evidence, the Public Accounts Committee publishes its report on Medicines Management which included a recommendation for: “the Welsh Government sets out a plan to maximise the use of pharmacy resource, including developing the modules for delivery in choose pharmacy and enabling independent pharmacists. This plan should build on the recommendations in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society report.
May 2018	Welsh Government ‘go-ahead’ The Welsh Government accepts the recommendation, stating; “We will ask the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee to work with stakeholders including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to develop a plan describing the future roles of pharmacy professionals in Wales and the steps to be taken by all stakeholders to maximise their use”.
September 201	RPS given key role to develop plan Responding to the Welsh Government request, the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee asks RPS Wales to project manage and author a 10 year vision for the profession.
October 2018- March 2019	Developing a vision ‘by the profession, for the profession’ Over a period of 4 months RPS Wales ensures that every member of the profession had an opportunity to have their say and inform the vison. This is through a number focus groups held in all corners of Wales that were attended by over 400 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This wide-spread engagement means this is a vision ‘by the profession, for the profession’. As well as focus groups, 4 expert working groups are established to identify priorities that aligned to the four main themes in “A Healthier Wales”, the Welsh Government’s long-term plan for health and social care. Wider views beyond pharmacy were also sought MDT and patient focus groups, as well as one-to-one interviews with strategic leaders across NHS Wales.
May 2019?	Draft Plan Submitted to Welsh Government Following approval by the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, the final RPS-drafted plan is submitted to the Minister for Health and Social Care.
July 2020	Delivery Board Established The Welsh Government establishes a Delivery Board who will support the implementation of the vision’s goals.
2020-2023	3 years of progress Despite the pandemic, huge strides are taken to drive forward the profession towards it’s 2030 vision. Find out more {Link to new page on progress]
June 2022	RPS asked to develop new goals for 2025 With the timeline for the first set of goals to 2022 nearing an end, the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee and Welsh Government again asks RPS to project manage engagement and author new 3 year goals to 2025.
July 2022 – September 2022	Engagement on new 3 year goals Over a 3 month period, RPS Wales engages with the profession for views on priorities for the profession until 2025 through a number of focus groups and an open consultation.
October 2022	New 2025 goals launched The new 3 year goals are launched at an event that included an address from the Minister for Health Social Service and presentations from member of the profession who have helped put the vision into action.
February 2023	Working towards the 2025 goals Work is now underway to achieve the new 2025 goals with RPS Wales now also taking over administration and direction of the Delivery Board.

Wider Engagement

A multidisciplinary focus group was set up to gain insight from other professional groups, including Royal Colleges, third sector organisations and other healthcare professionals.

There was also public and patient engagement to test some of the vision’s principles and to gain the public perspective and a series of one to one interviews with strategic leaders in Wales.