Medicine shortages
Our work to highlight how medicine shortages affect patient care, the pressures on pharmacy teams, and recommendations to inform action.
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 2026
This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme focuses on safe and effective care for people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), under the slogan ‘Safe care for life!’.
Our focus on education and credentialing
RCPharm President Tase Oputu reflects on a significant moment for pharmacy and the College’s focus on education, professional development and credentialing.
Enhanced curriculum and credentialing
Supporting newly qualified pharmacist prescribers to develop their prescribing practice, build professional capability and progress with confidence.
RCPharm annual conference 2026
Bringing together pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists from across the UK and beyond, this will be our first Annual Conference as the new Royal College.
For newly qualified pharmacists
This resource hub provides real-time practical support to ensure you develop the capability, confidence and professional judgement you need to prescribe safely and effectively.
Celebrating Black History Month 2026
Join us in celebrating Black History Month throughout October, to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black people to British society and pharmacy.
News
The latest news and updates from Royal College of Pharmacy.
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RCPharm response to the Budget
As the Government looks to grow the economy, pharmacists will be central to achieving its ambitions on health, reducing inequalities, managing the growing cost of long-term conditions and boosting patient access to healthcare. With continued pressures on public finances, it is crucial that the Government and NHS make the most of pharmacy’s potential to support prevention, including expanding vaccination services, supporting earlier detection and treatment of health conditions and tackling polypharmacy to reduce avoidable hospital admissions. Amid ongoing NHS cuts and reorganisation, strong pharmacy leadership must be retained and visible across the system. This is from commissioning through to delivery, to safeguarding quality, ensuring the best use of the NHS medicines budget and delivering on national priorities. We welcome the Government's commitment of £190 million to support winter pressures, recognising the challenges facing health services during the coming months. Community pharmacies are the most accessible part of the healthcare system and play a critical role in helping patients access timely advice, treatment and support, while easing pressure on other parts of the NHS. The Government's review of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is a positive step. AI has the potential to improve efficiency and support patient care, but it must align with professional standards and have a clear focus on patient safety. AI should support, not replace, professional judgement. Accountability for decisions should be reinforced with meaningful human oversight. Pharmacy has much to offer in terms of preventing ill health but to realise this potential, pharmacy services need fair and sustainable funding to enable the profession to fully contribute to delivering patient care and creating a more resilient NHS. Read more news stories.
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Pharmacy expertise can help tackle corridor care, says Royal College of Pharmacy
RCPharm is calling for greater use of pharmacists’ expertise to help prevent avoidable hospital admissions, improve patient flow and reduce the medicines-related risks associated with corridor care.
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Consultant pharmacist Heather Smith receives our 2026 Barnett Award
The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has named consultant pharmacist Heather Smith as this year’s winner of the Barnett Award, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to mentoring pharmacy professionals and supporting their professional development. Heather, a consultant pharmacist for older people at West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, has helped pharmacists throughout her career build their clinical expertise, confidence, research and leadership skills, while advancing medicines optimisation for older people. The Barnett Award was established in memory of esteemed Fellow Professor Nina Barnett, who died in 2023. It is awarded to Royal College of Pharmacy members who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the profession and have dedicated their careers to supporting, mentoring and advancing others. Heather Smith said: “It is an absolute honour to receive this award. Nina was so inspiring and I learnt so much from her, as did so many colleagues. Amongst other things, Nina inspired me to complete a formal coaching qualification. Coaching, mentoring and educating others, and then seeing them grow and prosper has brought me so much joy in my career. “It’s bittersweet to receive this reward as Nina is still very much missed, but we are determined to keep her legacy of developing others and person-centred medicines optimisation for older people alive.” One of Heather’s most significant achievements has been establishing a peer support group for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working across primary care, community services and care homes in Leeds. The group has been running for more than ten years, providing a forum for pharmacists to discuss complex cases, reflect on clinical decisions and learn from one another. She also helped develop a practical toolkit to enable other regions to establish similar groups. Louise Goldring, RCPharm’s Director of Education, said: “We’re delighted to present this award to Heather. She has made a real difference to pharmacists through the support and guidance she gives to others. From setting up peer support groups to mentoring pharmacists working towards consultant roles, she has helped colleagues build their confidence, develop their skills and progress in their careers.” Heather will be amongst fellow RCPharm awards and medal recipients invited to the RCPharm Annual Conference on 6 November to receive her award in person. Read more about RCPharm awards and medals. Read more news stories.
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RCPharm calls for prescription charges to be abolished following new poll
A survey from the National Pharmacy Association shows that one in ten people in England went without a medicine in the past year because of cost concerns. In response, Amandeep Doll, the Royal College of Pharmacy’s Director for England, said: “These findings are worrying and reflect what pharmacists know all too well. Every day, pharmacists are asked by patients who cannot afford all the medicines on their prescription which ones they could ‘do without’. Patients should not have to make choices which involve rationing their medicines. “Prescription charges are an unfair tax on health. They risk exacerbating health inequalities by creating financial barriers to accessing essential medicines, particularly for people on lower incomes and those managing long-term conditions. “There is no good reason why patients in England should face this barrier when prescriptions are already free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With the Budget next week, the government has an opportunity to put an end to this outdated and complex system and abolish prescription charges in England.” Read more news stories. Read our policy on prescription charges in England.
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Royal College of Pharmacy calls for further action on medicines shortages
Following the publication of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy’s latest report, 'Inquiry into Medicines Shortages in England: One Year On', Tase Oputu, President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, said: “Patients and pharmacy teams continue to feel the impact of medicines shortages. While there have been some positive steps, including collaboration between government, regulators, the NHS and industry, today’s report shows there is still more to do. “A national strategy on medicines shortages must continue to be supported by senior leaders in the new Government and backed with investment, alongside reforms on medicines reimbursement and supply in community pharmacy. “I welcome the APPG’s support for enabling pharmacists to make substitutions when a medicine is in short supply. I would urge Ministers to respond to the consultation and take action to improve patient access to medicines and reduce pressure on the NHS.” Read our report, 'Medicines shortages: solutions for empty shelves – one year on', for our recommendations to tackle medicines shortages. Read more news stories.
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RCPharm Vice President recognised among HSJ’s most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in health
Congratulations to Professor Mahendra Patel OBE, Vice President of the Royal College of Pharmacy and Chair of the English Pharmacy Advisory Council, who has been named in the Health Service Journal’s top 75 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health. Professor Patel was recognised for advancing health equity and inclusive research. His pioneering efforts to increase participation among underrepresented communities in the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC COVID-19 clinical trials helped shape more inclusive research practices across the UK and led to his appointment as a founding Director of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford. He said: “I am very honoured to be included in this year’s HSJ list. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of colleagues, partners and communities across the country who have worked tirelessly to improve health equity and ensure more people can benefit from research and healthcare innovations. “I am particularly proud of the progress being made across pharmacy, which continues to play a vital role in addressing health inequalities and improving outcomes for patients and communities." Professor Patel has partnered with government research and development departments in Wales and Northern Ireland, and as Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Bombay, to advance equitable participation in research. The Royal College of General Practitioners made him an Honorary Fellow in 2025, recognising his leadership and work on health inequalities. He has also focused on breaking down barriers to professional inclusion and increasing collaborative working across disciplines and professions. HSJ’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic 75 seeks to measure positive power and influence in the English NHS and health policy in the 12 months following the judging date (July 2026 to June 2027). Read more news stories.
We are the Royal College of Pharmacy, the professional leadership body for pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. We exist to advance the safe and effective use of medicines, drive excellence in patient care and support pharmacists to deliver the highest standards of practice.
As the third largest workforce in healthcare, pharmacy plays a vital role in the health system, and as experts in medicines, pharmacists and their teams are central to patient care and public health. Our mission is to put pharmacy at the forefront of patient care, advancing the safe and effective use of medicines to the benefit of patients and the public.
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RCPharm Professional support
One-to-one support – every weekday, 9am until 5pm
Call 0207 572 2737 to speak to a member of our support team, or you can email us using the link below.
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