The multiple first announced the specialist pharmacist practitioner title last week, which will be handed to pharmacists who “combine the highest level of clinical competence, with a drive to innovate at pharmacy level”.

Six pharmacists have already been recruited to the role, and Boots has since told C+D that it expects to appoint up to 250 “over the next few years”.

The length of the appointments will be decided “very much on a case-by-case basis” by a review panel, it explained. It gave the example of a specialist pharmacist practitioner in Brighton, who “has been appointed for the length of the anticoagulation service that has been commissioned”.

During the length of their appointment, individuals in these roles will be on an “enhanced salary scale”.

The panel will work with candidates to decide what development and support is needed, and review them at least annually, it said.

Individuals will also have “access to a pharmacist development fund”, Boots added.

In a separate announcement last week, Boots proposed a new committee to represent its pharmacists, in a final push to persuade them to reject Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union representation. Boots pharmacists have until March 8 to vote on whether their pay, hours and holiday should be collectively negotiated by the union, with ballot papers to be posted out on February 18.