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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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.
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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.
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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