Royal College of Pharmacy welcomes government action on palliative care
Published: 22 June 2026
The Royal College of Pharmacy has welcomed the government’s acceptance of the Health and Social Care Committee’s recommendations to improve access to palliative and end-of-life care, including plans for a 24/7 care framework and a single patient record.
Amandeep Doll, director for England at the Royal College of Pharmacy, said:
“We welcome the government’s acceptance of recommendations to improve access to palliative and end-of-life care.
“Timely access to medicines and support from pharmacy teams must be a core part of any successful model of palliative care. Pharmacists help people manage symptoms, access urgent medicines and receive care in the setting of their choice.
“We are also pleased to see support for a single patient record. Better sharing of patient information across healthcare services would improve communication, support safer clinical decisions and help deliver more joined-up care.
“Our own position on palliative care aligns with many of the recommendations. Our Daffodil Standards provide a quality improvement framework, which helps the whole pharmacy team to improve the care provided to patients needing palliative and end of life care.
“As the NHS seeks to deliver more care closer to home through the 10-year Health Plan, pharmacists must be fully integrated into multidisciplinary teams so patients and their families can access timely, coordinated support when they most need it.”
The College will continue working with partners to ensure pharmacy is central to delivering high-quality, accessible palliative care services.
Related news
Statement: RPS opposes the Assisted Dying Bill in Scotland
RPS Scotland opposes the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill following the removal of vital protections for pharmacists.
Use of paracetamol during pregnancy
This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Following recent comments from the Trump administration suggesting a link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Professor Claire Anderson, said: “Paracetamol has been used safely by millions of people for decades, including during pregnancy, when taken as directed. It is the first-line choice for pain management and fever control in a variety of patients, including pregnant women, children and the elderly. “A large study* conducted in 2024 found no evidence of a link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children. This research, which followed over 2.4 million children, provides reassurance for expectant parents that paracetamol remains a safe option for managing pain or fever during pregnancy when used as recommended. “As always, anyone with concerns about their medicines should speak to a pharmacist or other trusted healthcare professional to ensure they are getting sound advice from a trusted source.” *The study referred to is in JAMA Read the original letter to doctors from the US Food and Drug Administration on paracetamol and autism. RPS commentary was quoted in over 550 regional, national and international news outlets as part of an effort by many organisations to correct misinformation about the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism.