Royal College of Pharmacy welcomes new pharmacy minister
Published: 10 August 2026
Responding to the appointment of Dame Diana Johnson as the new Minister with responsibility for pharmacy, Professor Mahendra Patel OBE, Chair of the College’s English Pharmacy Advisory Council, said:
“We warmly welcome the appointment of Dame Diana Johnson as Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety with responsibility for pharmacy and look forward to working with the new ministerial team.
“This appointment comes as pharmacy navigates a period of considerable change, including reforms to Integrated Care Boards, delivery of the new pharmacy contract and ongoing uncertainty around workforce strategy.
“The growing number of pharmacist prescribers provides a huge opportunity. With the right support, expanding access to patient records and integration across care settings, pharmacist prescribers can help improve access to care in local communities, support people living with long-term conditions and help reduce avoidable pressure on hospitals and other parts of the NHS.
“We welcomed the commitment to NHS-funded independent prescribing through the new community pharmacy contract. The priority now must be to ensure that this is implemented effectively and equitably, so that patients across every community in all areas can benefit from the expertise of pharmacists.
“We urge the government to continue building on the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework settlement so that the new generation of pharmacist prescribers can fully use their skills across care settings.
“As well as building capacity in primary care, pharmacists play a crucial role in supporting patient safety and reducing avoidable hospital admissions, which must be fully integrated into new approaches to neighbourhood health.
“As the Royal College of Pharmacy, we look forward to working constructively with the new Minister and government to ensure that pharmacy is positioned at the heart of these reforms and that the pharmacists’ skills are fully utilised to improve patient care and reduce health inequalities.”
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Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of GPs
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