Last week, the Royal College of Pharmacy Wales team met with new Members of Senedd (MSs).

With around 70% of Members newly elected to the Senedd, it was an important opportunity to introduce the College and highlight the clinical role, expertise and contribution of pharmacists across Wales.

The team spoke to MSs about the contribution pharmacists across all sectors can make to the new Welsh Government’s health priorities. This included:

• Tackling waste to improve financial and environmental sustainability.
• Supporting patients with long-term conditions.
• Enabling care closer to home.
• Supporting prevention by helping people stay well and reducing medicines-related harm and hospital admissions.

We also discussed the Welsh Government’s proposals for a new cancer plan and the introduction of up to ten new surgical hubs, emphasising the important role pharmacists can play in both areas.

The team also emphasised that pharmacy teams need appropriate funding, resources and capacity to make full use of their expertise, improve patient care and help the NHS make best use of its resources.

Liz Hallett, Chair of the Royal College of Pharmacy’s Welsh Pharmacy Advisory Council, said:

“It was valuable to meet new and returning MSs so early in the Senedd term. With so many new Members, it is important they understand the profession’s role across community pharmacy, general practice, hospitals and other healthcare settings.”

Geraldine McCaffrey, Director for Wales at the Royal College of Pharmacy, added: 

“Pharmacists’ medicines expertise will be crucial to delivering the Welsh Government’s health priorities. Over the coming months, we’ll continue working with Members of the Senedd through one-to-one meetings, visits with pharmacy teams and responses to government consultations, ensuring pharmacists’ expertise and role in patient care are reflected as these plans are developed and implemented.”

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