Pharmacy leaders say independent prescribing can transform patient care – but only if barriers are removed

Pharmacy leaders have called for independent prescribing to become the cornerstone of community pharmacy’s clinical future, while warning that funding, workforce support and NHS integration must keep pace with the profession’s rapidly expanding prescribing capability.

At The Pharmacist’s latest roundtable, ‘A prescription for progress? How independent prescribing is changing pharmacy’ four experienced community pharmacists explored how the arrival of the first generation of newly qualified pharmacist prescribers is reshaping practice, and what must happen next to ensure the NHS fully benefits from their skills.

The discussion, chaired by editor Victoria Vaughan, brought together independent prescribers and pharmacists at different stages of their prescribing journey to examine the opportunities and challenges facing the profession. The conversation follows the rollout of NHS-funded independent prescribing within the community pharmacy contractual framework and the introduction of prescribing as the standard qualification for all new pharmacists entering the register from September 2026.

A central theme of the roundtable was the potential for independent prescribing to fundamentally improve patient access to care. Participants argued that community pharmacies are uniquely positioned to offer a convenient, one-stop clinical service that reduces unnecessary GP appointments and improves continuity of care.

They also highlighted the opportunity to expand beyond minor illness management into long-term conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, supporting the NHS’s wider ambition to deliver more care in neighbourhood settings.

However, delegates stressed that significant obstacles remain. Funding arrangements, consultation caps, inconsistent access to clinical records and the need to support experienced pharmacists transitioning into prescribing were all identified as barriers that could limit the impact of the new model if left unresolved. Participants also warned that many newly qualified prescribers may initially lack the confidence or structured support needed to begin prescribing immediately.

Victoria Vaughan, editor of The Pharmacist, said:

‘Independent prescribing represents one of the biggest shifts the pharmacy profession has seen in decades. Our panel made it clear that the clinical benefits for patients are enormous, but unlocking that potential will require more than simply qualifying more prescribers.

‘The discussion highlighted the need for sustainable funding, better integration with general practice and investment in the existing workforce, so that pharmacists of every generation are supported to deliver the next era of primary care.’

The roundtable also explored how contractual reform could better align community pharmacy with its increasingly clinical role, with participants arguing that the current dispensing-focused model is no longer fit for a profession moving towards prescribing-led care.

The Pharmacist’s roundtables examine the most pressing issues facing pharmacy across community and general practice. Recent discussions have explored pharmacy leadership, NHS reform and the evolution of Pharmacy First, as part of Cogora’s wider commitment to supporting collaboration across primary care.