Medicine shortages
Our work to highlight how medicine shortages affect patient care, the pressures on pharmacy teams, and recommendations to inform action.
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.
What’s next for a community pharmacist prescribing service in England?
This episode of The PJ Pod reflects on the ‘Community pharmacy independent prescribing pathfinder programme’.
News
The latest news and updates from Royal College of Pharmacy.
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RPS members vote in favour of change and royal college
RPS is delighted to announce that members have voted in favour by way of a Special Resolution Vote (SRV), in support of proposed changes to the RPS’ Royal Charter and our transition to royal college.
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Strengthening our partnership with Pharmacist Support
This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. At the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, we’ve always valued our strong partnership with Pharmacist Support, and we’re committed to continuing to work together to support the profession. With the proposed changes to our Royal Charter as part of our ambition to become both the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, we’ve collaborated on a joint statement to clarify what this means for our partnership moving forward. We know there have been questions about how these changes might impact Pharmacist Support's work, particularly around the proposed benevolence object. Our statement sets out our shared commitment to strengthening our collaboration and ensuring that support for the profession remains as effective as possible. You can read the full statement below. Following the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) announcement of proposed changes to its Royal Charter as part of its ambition to become both the Royal College of Pharmacy and a registered charity, RPS and Pharmacist Support are issuing this joint statement to set out how the two organisations will continue to work collaboratively together and if the RPS’ changes may impact the collaboration in the future. Since our evolution into separate but closely aligned entities in 2006, the RPS and Pharmacist Support have developed a collaborative relationship, engaging in joint activities and shared initiatives. In May 2024, we formalised this partnership through an agreement designed to align our plans, enhance cooperation and maximise the charity’s impact in supporting RPS members. This is all in accordance with RPS’s power to undertake benevolent activities in the existing Royal Charter (clause 3(2)). Our joint intention is to continue strengthening this partnership. In particular, RPS has been keen to alleviate concerns raised by Pharmacist Support, regarding the proposed amended Royal Charter and charitable object (clause 3(1)(c)): "To relieve poverty, financial hardship, or other distress among current and former Members and Associate Members of the College, their dependents, and those studying or training to be pharmacists, as well as others in the pharmacy profession, as determined by the Trustees." Concerns were raised by the charity that this object overlaps with Pharmacist Support’s existing work and may therefore negatively impact the charity. Thus, the RPS wishes to clarify that this proposed change to the Royal Charter is not intended to create competition between our organisations. Instead, it reflects a long-standing commitment by the RPS to benevolence in the current Royal Charter, and which the Charity Commission requires to be explicitly moved to the amended Royal Charter’s charitable objects clause if that commitment to benevolence for the pharmacy profession is to be retained by the Royal College of Pharmacy. If the special resolution is approved by members, the RPS intends to ensure that its commitment to benevolence is delivered effectively through strengthening the partnership with Pharmacist Support. A review of the existing partnership agreement will be undertaken to align with the new structure and goals of the Royal College of Pharmacy. The intention, both now and into the future, is for the Royal College of Pharmacy to deliver object 31(c) by supporting and working in partnership with the independent charity Pharmacist Support in delivering its crucial work. This proposed transition represents a significant step forward for the profession, and the RPS encourages its members to participate in the upcoming vote to help shape the future of pharmacy. RPS members will have the opportunity to vote on these changes through a special resolution vote, which will take place from 13th to 24th March 2025. Professor Claire Anderson, RPS President Esther Sadler-Williams, Chair of Pharmacist Support
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Open letter to the PDA following their statement about the RPS Special Resolution Vote process
This letter was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. We are disappointed by the position taken by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) regarding the RPS forthcoming Special Resolution Vote (SRV) of Members and Fellows of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (voting is open between 13th-24th March 2025). These proposals are made by the RPS Assembly, our governing body, to modernise our Charter (subject to Privy Council approvals) and make us fit for our future as a professional leadership body in response to the changing pharmacy landscape. We have also applied for registration with the charity regulators to form the Royal College of Pharmacy. After an extensive period of engagement with our members and wider stakeholders about the proposed changes to our current constitution and governance, we are a matter of days away from inviting our Members and Fellows to participate in an historic vote that, if supported by two thirds of those members who vote, would see the RPS move towards becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy. This is something many have been calling for over a number of years and the time to act is now. Our proposals for change and SRV have been put forward following a democratic process during which elected members of Assembly have reviewed, amended and unanimously approved the proposals for change. In addition, colleagues then sitting on the three National Pharmacy Boards emphatically supported the proposals for change and the strengthening of their professional leadership body. RPS has been open about the progress of the Constitution and Governance review at every stage. The proposals for change and the principles behind them have been the subject of numerous member communications during 2024 and leading up to the SRV, not least during the engagement roadshows held during October and November last year. The report of which can be found here. We have been delighted with the number of RPS members who have actively engaged with us in this process, either attending meetings or webinars and those who have asked us questions in an effort to seek to better understand the proposals and the consequences of becoming a royal college. A detailed series of questions and answers can be found here and anyone with a question not already answered may send a question to us using the ‘feedback’ email and we will respond promptly and further build the FAQ. This is a significant moment in the evolution of the professional leadership body. With the support of our Members and Fellows, it will lead to a Royal College of Pharmacy that will create greater recognition for pharmacy and the scope of its impact, advance pharmacists to provide excellence in patient care, support workforce transformation and put patients at the forefront of our work. We will do this by working in collaboration to encourage, identify and showcase excellence. Member engagement, recognition and community will be at its very heart. Professional independence is a cornerstone of the current RPS and will remain a cornerstone of the future royal college. Providing a strong and respected voice championing pharmacy to government, industry and others will remain central to our work. We urge Members and Fellows to exercise their vote and support the unanimous recommendation of the RPS Assembly members, who together with our National Pharmacy Boards and alongside a wide range of pharmacy stakeholders, are endorsing the proposals for the new Charter and to become the Royal College of Pharmacy. Sincerely, Professor Claire Anderson FFRPS FRPharmS, RPS President Brendon Jiang FRPharmS, RPS Treasurer Jonathan Burton FRPharmS, Scottish Pharmacy Board Chair and RPS Assembly member Geraldine McCaffrey MRPharmS, Welsh Pharmacy Board Chair and RPS Assembly member Tase Oputu FRPharmS, English Pharmacy Board Chair and RPS Assembly member Paul Bennett FRPharmS, RPS CEO
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Renew or join by 28 February to vote on Royal College status says RPS
RPS is urging pharmacists to renew their membership (if it is due) by 28th February 2025, or to join by that date, to be eligible to take part in the upcoming Special Resolution Vote on its proposals for change to become the Royal College of Pharmacy.
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Foysol Choudhury MSP visits Barnton Pharmacy, Edinburgh
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. On 17 February 2025, Foysol Choudhury MSP for Lothian, visited the pharmacy team at Barnton Pharmacy in Edinburgh to witness the fantastic work they are doing to provide care to their local community. The visit was organised by Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in Scotland. Foysol met pharmacy manager, Leanne Carey, who has owned and run Barnton Pharmacy for 15 years. Leanne spoke about the fantastic one-to-one care which she provides to her patients. As an independent prescriber, Leanne offers her patients direct access to medicines for common conditions as appropriate, saving them time whilst also reducing pressure on local GP practices. Foysol also met with Glenn Davie, who has led on Barnton’s implementation of the Daffodil Standards for Community Pharmacy. The standards were developed by RPS in conjunction with Marie Curie, to support community pharmacies to offer the very best palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care to patients, families and carers. Fiona McIntyre, policy and practice lead at RPS explained the role of RPS in providing professional support to pharmacists working in all sectors and outlined some of RPS’s policy priorities, including, enabling pharmacy access to patient records, environmental sustainability and ensuring funding and training routes are in place to secure a continual pipeline of pharmacists entering the profession in Scotland and ultimately sustaining pharmacy for the future. Speaking about the visit, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to witness first-hand the great work which the Barnton Pharmacy team is engaged in daily. I was really impressed to hear about the range of high-quality services which the team offers patients on a walk-in basis, from independent prescribing to palliative and end-of-life specialist support. In order that the pharmacy team can continue to deliver these services on behalf of the community, it is vital that the right infrastructure and support is in place to enable the team to provide the very best care. This includes enabling community pharmacists to have access to patient records; and ensuring funding is in place for pharmacy team workforce development, from funding for teaching and training prescribers to ensuring a healthy pipeline of pharmacy graduates for the future. I look forward to campaigning on these issues with my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament, to enable pharmacy to continue to provide a fantastic service for patients across Barnton, Lothians and across the whole of Scotland.” Read more RCPharm news stories.
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New RPS report unveils ‘roadshow’ debates about its proposals for change
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a report which captures the conversations and questions that were a key part of 15 ‘roadshow’ events held across Great Britain in October and November to outline and discuss its proposals for change and ambition to become a royal college. The roadshows were hosted by the RPS leadership team and elected officials, and were attended by pharmacists, foundation trainees and pharmaceutical scientists (members and non-members) who heard about the detail of the RPS’ proposals, shared their insights, raised important questions, and explored the implications of the proposed changes. The Roadshow Report captures the key themes raised during these sessions, and at other related online events, and seeks to help attendees and non-attendees understand the reasons behind the changes being proposed and what conversations took place. As well as an outline of the changes, key themes covered in the report include: Impact of the proposed changes; Membership of the new Royal College of Pharmacy; Professional leadership and collaboration; Credentialing; What the proposed changes would mean for particular groups of pharmacy professionals; RPS’s wider work. RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: "These roadshows have provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with members and non-members and hear their thoughts about the proposed changes, and what becoming a royal college would mean to them and for pharmacy. “We are grateful for the enthusiasm, insights, and constructive feedback shared by everyone who came to one of the events. This dialogue is vital as we move forward with our proposals for change and seek to elevate pharmacy and champion our collective impact on patient care.” You can continue contributing to the conversation about RPS ambitions to become a royal college through [email protected] Read the Roadshow Report. Find out more about our proposals to become a royal college. Read our FAQs. 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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