In 2022, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) highlighted a lack of consistency and quality assurance in post-registration education and training for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
At a time when the NHS is under significant pressure and there is a shortage of pharmacy staff, understanding the opportunities and barriers to post-registration development is essential if we are to continue to upskill the profession, improve staff retention and deliver better patient care.
In line with its role in planning, educating and training the healthcare workforce, Health Education England (HEE), which is now part of the new NHS England, commissioned NHS Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit to undertake a pilot study to explore potential inconsistencies in training across different sectors in the Midlands and East of England.
The pilot study included surveys and virtual roundtables with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy employers, training providers and professional bodies with results indicating a need to increase awareness of, and access to, current training opportunities and improve consistency in their use across settings.
You can read more about the pilot and its findings in this article for the Pharmaceutical Journal.
This short piece of research has indicated that there is a need and desire for an upskilled workforce. While local or national training pathways may be developed to meet this desire, both individual and organisational needs must be considered. In the short- to medium-term, portfolio working and upskilling among individuals may help to fill local health economy workforce needs, but consideration must be given to employers’ needs for overall workforce stability.
A robust framework that encourages workforce collaboration between organisations could reduce the number of pharmacy professionals leaving organisations to progress their career, for example.
Access the full report here.
Further research has been recommended to develop a deeper understanding of some of the issues raised in this survey, to expand the sectors covered and secure more comprehensive input from underrepresented groups, including those working in community pharmacy and those with protected characteristics.