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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UKPPLAB invite to pharmacy professional leadership conversation
This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. RPS is one of eight pharmacy professional leadership bodies and specialist professional groups, along with independent expert members, that comprise the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB). Following its Board meeting in June, the UKPPLAB has published its Common Vision and Purpose for Pharmacy Professional Leadership. Co-created by Board members, and hundreds of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and people working in pharmacy across the UK, the Vision and Common Purpose sets out a shared vision to build a more collaborative, inclusive and effective model of pharmacy professional leadership. This focus on future collaboration will be used to guide the next steps on co-creation. RPS president Professor Claire Anderson said: "As the RPS representative on the UKPPLAB, I fully support the Board’s aim to provide shared principles that underpin strong, sustainable leadership across the profession. Ongoing collaboration and open dialogue are essential as we work to advance the profession and demonstrate our collective value in improving patient care." The UKPPLAB is now inviting pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy team members from across the UK to contribute to the next steps in the discussions about the future of pharmacy professional leadership. The Board is actively discussing how to build a sustainable and effective future model of pharmacy professional leadership in light of the vote in favour of RPS proposals to establish the Royal College of Pharmacy in 2026. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute to this conversation and keep up the momentum towards greater collaboration, the Board is hosting a series of ‘Meet the Board Members’ webinars in July and September. Register now for your chance to join the webinars. All webinars are open to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, wider pharmacy team members and interested stakeholders from across the UK. Monday 14 July 2025, 6pm-7.15pm Tuesday 15 July 2025, 6pm-7.15pm Wednesday 3 September 2025, 6pm-7.15pm Monday 8 September 2025, 6pm-7.15pm Find out more about the work of the UKPPLAB. Read more news stories.
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Reclassification will help unlock access to medicines says RPS
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society welcomes the news from the Department of Health and Social Care encouraging more reclassification applications to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. RPS is a member of the Conditions & Category Working Group, which has worked with the MHRA to identify medicines which could be reclassified from ‘available only on prescription’ (POM) to ‘available in pharmacy’ (P) to improve opportunities for self care and to enable timely and more convenient access to medicines. Six broad health conditions have been identified where medicines could be reclassified to treat allergies, pain, skin problems, digestive disorders, women's health and oral health, based on international practice and real-world evidence. Reclassification of medicines enables people to be treated for specific conditions whilst receiving informed guidance, advice and support from their pharmacy team. President of the RPS Professor Claire Anderson said: "We welcome the news that applications for POM to P switches are being encouraged in six therapeutic areas. Reclassification can provide people with easier access to treatments for a range of symptoms and encourages self-care. “Diagnosing and discussing health problems with patients and advising on the benefits and risks of treatment options are integral to the role of the pharmacy team. “Enabling POM to P switches has a critical role to play in managing demand in primary care. It helps minimise unnecessary GP appointments and A&E attendances for minor conditions and ensures the public get the treatment they need from community pharmacies. “As the professional leadership body for pharmacists, RPS will work closely with the MHRA and manufacturers to provide guidance ensuring what is provided to the public continues to be safe and appropriate for their condition.” Read more RCPharm news stories.
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RPS response to GPhC’s updated guidance on online pharmacy services
Following new GPhC guidance, RPS President Professor Claire Anderson emphasises the importance of patient–prescriber interactions.
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Scottish Parliamentary Reception highlights The Daffodil Standards
A Scottish Parliamentary reception has highlighted the vital role of community pharmacies in delivering high‑quality palliative and end‑of‑life care through the Daffodil Standards, developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Marie Curie, with growing numbers of pharmacy teams across Scotland signing up.
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Collaborative Vision for Pharmacy Professional Leadership
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB) has launched a series of webinars during February so that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy team members can collaborate on a proposed vision and common purpose for pharmacy professional leadership. RPS is one of eight pharmacy professional leadership bodies, and specialist professional groups, along with independent expert members, that comprise the UKPPLAB. The webinars will take place ahead of a RPS member vote on proposed changes to its governance, including proposals to become a royal college; the Royal College of Pharmacy. The vision and common purpose engagement exercise is aligned with the extensive engagement RPS has already undertaken to inform and consult on its constitution and governance review, which included 15 in-person Roadshow events across Great Britain, open to pharmacists, foundation trainees and pharmaceutical scientists (whether members or not), and its own webinars including for students. There have also been wide-ranging discussions with stakeholders and organisations to explore and gain feedback on the RPS’ proposals for change. Though RPS is not hosting additional webinars as part of this initiative, RPS will be joining the three Advisory Board-led webinars in England, Scotland and Wales. RPS members can sign up to hear more about the UKPPLAB vision and common purpose work. RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: “As the RPS representative on the UKPPLAB I very much welcome the Board’s approach to creating shared principles for effective and sustainable leadership. "Our extensive series of Roadshow events and discussions have already given RPS members (and non-members) an opportunity to come together and explore what professional leadership means for them, so we are not hosting an additional webinar. We have published a Roadshow Report on the outcome of our many conversations and I’m very grateful for the enthusiasm, insights and constructive feedback shared by everyone who attended the events. “The more we are aligned across the different bodies and groups, the stronger pharmacy professional leadership will become. Continued dialogue is vital as we seek to elevate pharmacy and champion our collective impact on patient care. “The UKPPLAB’s engagement exercise is a prime example of collaboration and an important signal of the collective commitment to co-create effective future pharmacy professional leadership. As a member of the Board, we firmly believe that by working together, the pharmacy can enhance its leadership capabilities and better serve the needs of its patients, professionals and the public." Join the webinars. Read more RCPharm news stories.
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Polypharmacy featured on BBC’s Morning Live
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. RPS Fellow Steve Williams appeared on BBC1's Morning Live to discuss the challenges of polypharmacy — the use of multiple medicines by one person — and how to manage it effectively. Taking multiple medications increases the risk of side effects, interactions, and patients can have difficulties in taking them correctly. Steve shared how regular medication reviews help patients and healthcare professionals navigate these challenges. Our 'Repeat Prescribing Toolkit', developed with the Royal College of GPs, is aimed to help reduce polypharmacy and reduce medicines waste. It helps GP practices and pharmacies improve medication reviews, patient involvement, and access to medicines. Find out more here. Read our guidance on polypharmacy. Watch Steve’s interview: https://youtu.be/8zi-O1Tjo5o?si=iJ06Q8clcb8DNk-0 Read more RCPharm 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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