Senedd told of pressures facing pharmacy teams in Wales
Published: 28 March 2025
This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
The health and wellbeing of the pharmacy profession came into sharp focus this month as RPS Wales met with Members of the Senedd/Welsh Parliament at a dedicated briefing event.
Hosted by RPS, the event brought MSs together (including First Minister, Eluned Morgan, pictured) over Wednesday lunchtime to discuss the findings of our latest Workforce Wellbeing Survey.
The Wales-specific results revealed:
- A worrying 88% of pharmacy team members are at high risk of burnout, with key contributing factors including inadequate staffing (73%), lack of work-life balance (46%), financial pressures (45%), and insufficient protected learning time (49%).
- Medicine shortages are taking a toll on mental health, with 60% of respondents reporting an impact on their wellbeing.
- Workplace abuse remains a serious concern, as 52% of respondents reported verbal abuse from the public.
In response, we highlighted to MSs the urgent need for action, particularly in three key areas:
- Investment in the pharmacy workforce, focusing on recruitment and retention.
- Mandatory protected learning time, ensuring all pharmacy team members have dedicated time for professional development within their job plans.
- And to tackle verbal abuse, stronger public messaging that raises awareness of both the evolving clinical role and pressures facing pharmacy teams.
Commenting on the briefing event, RPS Wales Director, Elen Jones, said:
“At a time when pharmacy teams are being asked to deliver transformational change through increased prescribing and clinical services, the survey underscores the urgent need for better support systems to enable professional development, combat burnout, and promote wellbeing.”
“We were pleased with the recognition from MSs of the vital role pharmacy teams play across all sectors of healthcare and their understanding of the need for greater support.”
“Building on these discussions, RPS will continue to engage with all political parties -particularly as they shape their priorities ahead of the upcoming Senedd election – to ensure the needs of pharmacy teams in Wales are met, ultimately leading to improved patient care.”
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