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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RPS calls for pharmacy workforce support
The RPS has reiterated its call for pharmacy to be central to the forthcoming NHS workforce plan, stressing the need for investment in education, prescribing, professional development and wellbeing to support a growing, evolving pharmacy workforce.
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BNF Partnership translates cautionary and advisory labels into the UK’s most spoken languages
BNF Partnership comprising BMJ Group, Pharmaceutical Press, RCPCH, and NPPG has translated British National Formulary (BNF) and BNF for Children (BNFC) cautionary and advisory labels (CALs) into the UK’s most spoken languages for their API customers for integration into clinical systems. BNF + BNFC CALs provide essential supplementary guidance on dispensed medicines using evidence-based and trusted BNF and BNFC knowledge. Only available from Pharmaceutical Press, on behalf of BNF Partnership, BNF + BNFC CALs are clear, unambiguous, and optimised for patients to understand, helping to improve medication adherence and optimise patient outcomes. Kate Towers, Content Director at Pharmaceutical Press, on behalf of BNF Partnership said: “British National Formulary has an enduring relationship with the National Health Services across the UK, and health professionals implicitly trust the evidence-based independent information to make informed decisions about the safe and effective use of medicines. We recognise how essential the BNF + BNFC CALs are in supporting medication adherence and safety. This additional service, providing translations into the most spoken languages in the UK, is an important development to extend this support to more patients.” BNF + BNFC CALs translations have been undertaken by professional registered translators in the UK and where multiple dialects exist for a particular language, the BNF + BNFC CALs have been translated into the dialect most spoken. More languages are due to be added to the API over the coming months. For more information on BNF + BNFC CALs For more information visit BNF.org Read more Royal College of Pharmacy news stories.
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Professor Cathy McKenzie appointed to UK’s first full professorial role in intensive care pharmacy
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) congratulates Professor Cathy McKenzie on her appointment as Professor of Intensive Care Pharmacy at the University of Southampton — the first role of its kind in the UK. Professor McKenzie also holds the position of Honorary Consultant Pharmacist in Critical Care at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), where she leads research focused on improving pharmacotherapy for critically ill patients. She is a long-standing member of the RPS Science and Research Committee and has contributed extensively to the Society’s work in advancing pharmaceutical science. Commenting on her appointment, Professor McKenzie, said: “I would like to thank the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for their ongoing support throughout my career. I look forward to continuing to work with the Society and supporting its transition into the Royal College of Pharmacy, to promote and encourage research among pharmacy professionals for the benefit of our patients and the wider public.” Professor Claire Anderson, RPS President, said: “I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to Professor McKenzie on her appointment. This highlights the increasing research and clinical leadership of pharmacists within critical care. Professor McKenzie’s work demonstrates the significant impact pharmacy can have on patient care and the advancement of the profession through research and collaboration.” Read more RCPharm news stories
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RPS Wales welcomes expansion of clinical community pharmacy services
RPS Wales has welcomed new Welsh government funding that will expand sore throat test and treat and UTI services to almost all community pharmacies in Wales, improving access to care while highlighting the need for continued support for pressured pharmacy teams.
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Celebrating East and South East Asian Heritage Month 2025
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Throughout September, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society celebrated East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month by recognising the resilience, heritage and contributions of ESEA communities in pharmacy. We worked in collaboration with Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (BPSA), Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Pharmacy Technicians of Colour, UK Black Pharmacist Association and Pharmacy Business Magazine to mark the month. ‘Reframing Resilience’ event Our online event, ‘Reframing Resilience’, brought together pharmacy professionals to celebrate ESEA culture and history, and to reflect on how identity shapes careers in healthcare. Catch up on the webinar. Resilience rooted in identity Senior pharmacist and leader in primary care Yuen Toh shared her personal story in a blog, highlighting how her Malaysian Chinese heritage shaped her journey in healthcare. She spoke about the importance of cultural celebration, inclusive leadership and mentoring the next generation — reminding us that resilience is built through connection and community. We want to thank everyone who engaged and participated throughout the month. We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can better support and celebrate this in the future. If you would like to share your ideas, please get in touch at [email protected]. Catch up on how we celebrated ESEAHM in 2024. Find out more about RPS Inclusion and Diversity. Read more RCPharm news stories.
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Welsh Government commissions review of pharmacy professionals in general practice
The Welsh Government has commissioned the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to lead an independent review of the role of pharmacy professionals working in and for general practice in Wales. The announcement was made by Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, at the Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales Conference, hosted by the RPS in Cardiff.
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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