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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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.
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Professor Amira Guirguis appointed to Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Professor Amira Guirguis, Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) Science and Research Committee and RPS Fellow, has been appointed to the prestigious Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The Advisory Council is an independent expert body that advises government on the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs, including their classification and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its regulations. Paul Bennett, CEO of RPS, said: “We are delighted and very proud of Professor Guirguis’s appointment to the ACMD, which provides advice to government, carries out in-depth enquiries and influences drugs policy in the UK. “This appointment acknowledges her expertise, dedication and commitment to evidence-based science at the highest level. I’d like to offer my congratulations and wish her every success in this important role.” Find out more about the RPS Science and Research Committee More about the ACMD Read more RCPharm news stories
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RPS launches new policy on artificial intelligence in pharmacy
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. We've published a new policy outlining how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to support pharmacy practice and improve patient care. Developed in consultation with RPS members, Expert Advisory Group members, Board members, multi-professional experts in digital technology and AI, and external stakeholders including the General Pharmaceutical Council, the policy highlights the challenges and opportunities AI presents to enhance patient access, support clinical decisions and improve the safety and efficient of medicines supply chains. Key areas of the policy include: Improving patient care: AI is a tool to support pharmacy professionals to improve the safe and effective use of medicines in any setting, and achieve better patient outcomes Education and training: Investment in AI skills and knowledge is vital to equip the pharmacy workforce for the future Data protection: Pharmacists must safeguard patient data and ensure compliance with privacy standards when using AI tools Collaboration: AI tools must be developed in partnership with pharmacists, data scientists, developers and patients and to ensure they meet clinical needs Governance and safety: AI systems must adhere to strict regulatory standards, with ongoing testing and oversight to safeguard patients Patient focus: Transparency and diverse data are essential to ensure fair and effective AI-driven care. RPS President, Professor Claire Anderson, said: “AI offers exciting potential to transform pharmacy practice and there are some great examples where it’s already in use. We must optimise the opportunities that these advancing technologies can bring to enhance patient access to care, improve patient experience, support clinical decision-making and improve the safety and efficiency of the medicines supply chain. Our policy provides a framework to ensure AI is harnessed safely and effectively to support pharmacists and patients.” Read more about how AI is transforming pharmacy in our blog by Darren Powell, Chair of the RPS Digital Pharmacy Expert Advisory Group. Read more news stories
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Government responds to Pharmacy Inquiry report
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Health and Social Care Committee has published the government’s response to its inquiry report on pharmacy. The new Committee chair Layla Moran MP has noted that before the general election cross-party Committee had called on the government to act ‘at pace’ to address the pressing issues on funding, medicine shortages and challenges in the workforce. Elen Jones, RPS director for England and Wales, said: “Pharmacists and pharmacy teams play a crucial role across the health service and this was rightly recognised during the Committee’s inquiry. With the government’s response stating that pharmacy is a ‘key priority’, words must now be backed by action in the 10-year health plan and new workforce plan expected later this year. “At the same time, pharmacists and pharmacy teams are under significant pressure and many will share the Committee Chair’s concern that additional support is needed now. “I welcome the government’s commitment to make the most of the next generation of pharmacist prescribers, which will help deliver its ambition to treat people closer to home. Unlocking the potential of pharmacist prescribing will need sustained investment in IT systems, workforce and a prescribing budget. “As the government looks to develop a ‘neighbourhood health service’, I would urge ministers to act on the Committee’s recommendation to widen access to PrEP via community pharmacy and ensure that this is delivered through the forthcoming HIV Action Plan. “As pharmacists play a more clinical role in the health service, our evidence to the Committee highlighted the injustice facing pharmacy students excluded from the Learning Support Fund. If we are to attract and retain the pharmacists we need to meet demand, this inequity at the very start of their career journey must be addressed. “Patient groups, pharmacists and other health professionals continue to warn about the impact of medicines shortages and I welcome the Committee’s focus on this issue. We have long called for pharmacists to be able to make appropriate substitutions to help manage medicines shortages — this was set out in our evidence to the Inquiry and reiterated in our comprehensive report. With the government response accepting that there may be occasions where it is appropriate to enable further flexibility, we look forward to progressing this further.” Find out more about our evidence to the Committee’s Pharmacy Inquiry. 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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