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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Prescription charge in England frozen for 2025
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Commenting on the government's announcement today that the cost of the prescription charge and pre-payment certificates in England have been frozen for 2025/2026, Chair of RPS England Tase Oputu said: “This is a welcome pause in the otherwise relentless rise of the prescription charge for patients. No-one should face a financial barrier to get the medicines they need to stay well. “Pharmacists tell us they regularly see patients going without essential, life-saving medicines because they can’t afford all the items they’ve been prescribed. “When patients can’t afford their medicines, their health suffers, leading to more GP appointments, an increased risk of hospital admissions and added pressure on the NHS. Today’s news rightly recognises the key role that medicines play in helping people stay health and shifting care closer to home. “Millions of pounds are spent each year policing a complex prescription charges system that puts avoidable strain on patients and pharmacy teams alike. I hope the Government can build on today’s announcement, listen to the concerns of patients and health professionals, and bring about an end to unaffordable prescription charges in England.” The prescription charge will remain at £9.90 per item; a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate will be frozen at £32.05 and a 12-month certificate will remain at £114.50.
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RPS welcomes new funding settlement for community pharmacy
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has welcomed a new funding settlement for community pharmacy in England, calling it the sector’s best deal in a decade and a vital step toward improving patient access, addressing long-term underinvestment and reducing health inequalities.
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Senedd told of pressures facing pharmacy teams in Wales
RPS Wales has briefed Members of the Senedd on the RPS workforce wellbeing survey findings which show high burnout risk, increasing workplace pressures, the urgent need for investment, protected learning time and action on abuse.
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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
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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