Royal College of Pharmacy responds to new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in England
Published: 29 May 2026
Today, the outcome of negotiations for the new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in England was announced. Commenting on the announcement, Director for England at the Royal College of Pharmacy Amandeep Doll said:
“We welcome the Government’s ambition to expand the role of community pharmacy and improve patient access to care through this latest investment of £340 million and the planned rollout of NHS-funded independent prescribing.
“Enabling appropriately qualified pharmacists to assess, treat and prescribe for patients directly is a positive step towards delivering more care closer to home. It reflects the growing clinical capability of the pharmacy workforce, already demonstrated through Pharmacy First, and will improve access to treatment and the patient experience. New prescribing services must be adequately supported to avoid a postcode lottery for patient access.
“Progress must not stop here, and the Government must continue to build on today’s settlement and ensure that the new generation of pharmacist prescribers can fully use their skills to support patients across care settings.
Mahendra Patel, Chair of the RCPharm English National Pharmacy Advisory Council, said:
“The shift to prescribing also brings greater clinical responsibility and time pressures. Its success will depend on sufficient investment in workforce training and capacity, protected time for professional development and system leadership, and strong clinical governance to ensure high standards of care. Without this, there is a risk that the ambition for prescribing in community pharmacy will not be fully realised.
“It’s also vital that community pharmacies are fully integrated within local health systems and neighbourhood teams to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
“Community pharmacies continue to face considerable financial pressures and workforce challenges. Sustained investment, careful implementation of prescribing services and engagement with the community pharmacy workforce are essential to ensure future success and secure the long-term future of community pharmacy services.”
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