Ministers are to change the law allowing pharmacy technicians to dispense more medicines to patients
Pharmacists will have more time to speak to patients about medical conditions and carry out blood pressure and other routine checks from the end of this year.
Meanwhile, as part of the Government’s 10-year health plan to bring the NHS closer to communities, registered pharmacy technicians will be able to prepare and dispense prescribed medicines to people without the pharmacist needing to be present.
The medicine will still need to be checked and bagged by the pharmacist before they are dispensed by technicians, but the legal change will free up more time for them to see patients for minor conditions that do not necessarily need treatment by a GP.
Writing for The i Paper, health minister Stephen Kinnock said: “Currently, a pharmacist must personally supervise every aspect of pharmacy operations, even routine tasks that other qualified team members could safely handle.
“We’re bringing common sense to these outdated rules with robust safeguards, allowing trained staff to hand over checked prescription bags – something that’s already happening through home delivery services.
“For patients, this will mean shorter waiting times, better access to pharmacist advice, and more clinical services available at your local pharmacy.”
More face-to-face consultations
The Government is introducing draft legislation to Parliament, which will update laws from 1933, which state that a pharmacist must always be present when medicine is given to patients.
It is expected to be effective from the end of this year.
Under the changes, pharmacists would have more time to offer face-to-face Pharmacy First consultations, where patients are seen for minor medical conditions without the need for a GP appointment, such as ear ache, sore throat and colds.
They will also be freed up to give advice to patients and carry out blood pressure checks.
The measures have been welcomed by the pharmacy sector, which has been calling for a change to the law to allow pharmacy technicians to have more responsibilities.
Safety concerns
There have also been concerns about funding for community pharmacies, with The i Paper revealing earlier this year that closures have led to the lowest total for 20 years.
However, the Government is likely to face questions over safety, following concerns about NHS physician associates misdiagnosing patients.
But the sector and Government insisted the pharmacy changes would keep prescribing safe because a pharmacist would be the one checking and bagging the medicine before authorising a technician to hand it over in their absence.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists Association, said: “Patients will no longer have to wait for a pharmacist to be present to receive prescribed medicines that have already been checked, bagged up and are ready to go.
“Pharmacists will be freed up to spend even more time with patients, including delivering advice on medicines, but also important NHS services such as Pharmacy First and blood pressure checks”.
Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Association, said: “We support the overall direction of travel set out in this legislation.
“It reflects a more collaborative, team-based approach to pharmacy that will help pharmacists focus on patient-facing clinical care while ensuring safety remains paramount.
“We will continue to work with the regulator and partners across the pharmacy professions to shape a future where all members of the pharmacy team are empowered to contribute fully to patient care.”
Our pharmacy changes are commons sense
As The i Paper readers are well aware, our local pharmacies are far more than just places to pick up prescriptions – they are vital health hubs at the heart of our communities.
The i Paper’s reporting has shone a light on how the pharmacy sector has been neglected for far too long, with pharmacies not able to make the most of the skills of highly trained and dedicated professionals.
That’s why this Government is hitting the ground running in delivering our 10-year health plan, modernising pharmacy services by giving teams more flexibility and improving care for patients.
The changes we’re bringing in will mean pharmacists spend more time on clinical care, while allowing registered pharmacy technicians to take on more responsibility. This isn’t just administrative tinkering – it will make sure the right person is doing the right task at the right time.
Currently, a pharmacist must personally supervise every aspect of pharmacy operations, even routine tasks that other qualified team members could safely handle. We’re bringing common sense to these outdated rules with robust safeguards, allowing trained staff to hand over checked prescription bags – something that’s already happening through home delivery services.
For patients, this will mean shorter waiting times, better access to pharmacist advice, and more clinical services available at your local pharmacy. It will also mean healthcare professionals can work at the top of their skills and is part of our wider strategy to shift more care from hospital to community through our 10-year plan.
This Government promised to help the health service make the move from sickness to prevention as part of the Plan for Change, and steps like this will free up pharmacists to offer advice, improve care in the community and help catch conditions more quickly and avoid lengthy hospital stays down the road.
We are committed to removing barriers to better healthcare, whether that’s on the high street or in the hospital. By modernising pharmacies, we’re creating a system that works better for patients and professionals alike – and the high-quality services that communities across Britain deserve.
Our plan is about making sure the NHS can be there for us when we need it, and which makes the best use of all the incredible healthcare staff up and down the country.
Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State for Care