Prescribing has been drifting towards community pharmacy since it was first floated in the late 1980s. But four decades later ambition has evolved into tangible action - from September 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists in England will graduate as independent prescribers from day one of registration.
It’s a transformative stage in community pharmacy’s evolutionary development. Boots wants an IP in every one of its stores. But warnings the sector simply isn’t ready have persisted.
Recently it was revealed that some 400 soon-to-be-graduates do not have an assigned designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) – and may not register.
Huge issue
Bad news for hundreds of young pharmacists, but the plan has flaws yet to be firmly addressed in material ways, according to the majority of the feedback from C+D’s Counter View survey.
There is broad support for the underlying concept, with one respondent saying that “it’s great that pharmacists can prescribe, or learn to more readily”.
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But they went on to add that “getting a supervisor is a huge issue, due to the potential cost and time needed. I also believe there isn’t enough time spent on prescribing during the foundation year.”
Another agreed that “prescribing in community pharmacy is a great idea” but there is “insufficient funding to allow a prescriber to focus on that part of their role.
“Second pharmacist cover is reducing, and I don’t think the role can be done safely and effectively without sufficient cover by a second pharmacist or accredited technician cover.”
Another said they “do not have full confidence in newly qualified pharmacists to be prescribers”.
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However, they also went on to say that “experienced pharmacists with the IP qualification should be workable” and “could relieve pressure from the GP.”
But they said “funding is the greatest issue as we cannot keep providing new services with insignificant remuneration or - even worse – a free service.”
Perception
This combination of a lack of structured support, including funding to provide the service, was a familiar refrain from C+D readers.
“As an older pharmacist it concerns me,” said one. “I don’t want to train, I’m 56.
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“And by the time I retire we will be a two-tier workforce. I am concerned that the public perception will be that a pharmacist can prescribe anything, like a GP. There will need to be a careful transition so it is recognised that pharmacists will only be able to prescribe in certain therapeutic areas.
“I already see a big demand under Pharmacy First for antibiotics for chest infections, as the perception is that pharmacists now issue antibiotics for anything. Public education will be key. I also suspect that for the next few years we will see a drift of newly qualified prescribing pharmacists moving to GP practices and private clinics, so I fear community pharmacy will suffer a workforce shortage for a while.”
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This potential unintended consequence was echoed by another, who said they could “see why some employers are reluctant to get current pharmacists to train for IP as they are more likely to go to GP practice or PCN. Also the current training is too difficult and intense to work around community life.”
A million things to do
Another said that pharmacies are “not ready to prescribe, because there is no time for the pharmacist to prescribe safely when they have a million other things to do”.
Another respondent agreed, saying community pharmacy is “not ready for this. A lot are still only able to manage their dispensing workload, and are not set up for the increased work that prescribing would entail.
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“For example I still often spend my day checking prescriptions as there is no ACT/ACD. Also more needs to be done to support current pharmacists accessing the DSP, and training required.
“I heard recently someone was quoted £5,000 for supervision. This is not affordable for most, especially because I think the IP qualification will not lead to increased rates/salaries. Instead it will become the normal qualification, and companies will just expect it and pay the same as they do now. Pharmacist who haven’t got it will be seen as a low tier work force.”
One IP working in community pharmacy said their experience suggested that “community colleagues who have no GP experience will really struggle with prescribing unless proper paid training is offered.
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“We saw this with Pharmacy First, where many community pharmacists were too scared to supply antibiotics and other POMs (albeit from a PGD) as they were not confident in doing so. This was because there was no real training offered, and any that was offered would have been unpaid.”
Give it time
Though the general sentiment is that IP is a progressive move for the sector, there is also a strong sense of caution in the air, with one reader saying graduates “need some time to develop into prescribing. It’s wrong to give IP rights so soon.”
And another said: “We are pushing the envelope with prescribing training in a sector that is not ready to accommodate them. I think the liability problems over the next five years will be substantial.”
