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Community pharmacists across the UK are looking for ways to reduce operational costs and find new sources of revenue. This is a pressing issue for the sector: reversing a decade of cuts to pharmacy funding will be a mammoth task, while pharmacists have taken on new primary care responsibilities under Pharmacy First. This means that fresh sources of revenue and lower costs will overwhelmingly come from new technology and the efficiencies they can bring. As Britain's 11,500 community pharmacies assume a larger role on the frontlines of primary care, pharmacists should rapidly implement cost-effective tech solutions that provide pharmacies with a one-stop-shop to drive down costs and increase revenue. Opportunity in PGD reform New technology will be key for community pharmacists to benefit fully from reforms to PGDs. The scope of PGDs is now significantly expanding: as of June 26, pharmacy technicians are now on the list of registered healthcare professionals who can make use of PGDs. These reforms can benefit community pharmacies in several ways. For one, they will allow more pharmacy staff to administer 'frontline services' such as vaccinations - reducing costs and generating revenue. Further, the wider range of services that pharmacies can offer under Pharmacy First will make these procedures, as well as other kinds of preventative care, more accessible and convenient - increasing footfall. With international travel and tourism now growing apace, increased demand for travel vaccinations means that, according to research from Charac, the average UK community pharmacy can expect to generate £46,800 a year through travel health services.

Responding to an MP's question in the House of Commons, prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated his deep concern for the future of UK community pharmacies, stressing their commitment to enhancing the sector with an additional £645 million in funding through the Pharmacy First initiative. At the recent Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday, Angela Richardson, the Conservative MP for Guildford, raised the issue of rising pharmacy closures, revealing that Guildford recently lost two neighbouring pharmacies. Highlighting that empowering local pharmacies is a key part of this government's plan to cut waiting lists, she asked Sunak whether he would agree that it is vital for residents to have access to "a good, efficient, and above all, local pharmacy." In response, Sunak said: "I care deeply about the future of our community pharmacies."

A recent report published by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has highlighted a significant increase in the number of registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, indicating the expanding role of these professionals in the UK healthcare system. As of May 31, 2024, the GPhC register recorded a total of 90,739 pharmacy professionals, up from 90,604 at the end of April 2024. This includes 64,415 pharmacists and 26,324 pharmacy technicians, maintaining a steady split of 71 per cent pharmacists and 29 per cent pharmacy technicians. This reflects an overall increase of four pharmacists and 131 pharmacy technicians from the previous month. The report underscores the critical role of pharmacy professionals in ensuring high-quality patient care and supporting the operational efficiency of pharmacies.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and BeWell are working together to help provide efficiencies and productivity that address the growing pressures within community pharmacy. BeWell's Pharmacy Management Platform provides robust solutions that include Patient Relationship Management, Omnichannel Communications and Engagement, Services and Bookings Management, access to patient records, NHS Login supported Patient Application, and repeat prescription capabilities for Pharmacy Website and Patient App that include integrations with Surgery Online Services. This single interoperable platform is also integrated with pharmacy PMRs, connecting back office and administrative functions with front-of-house digital patient experiences. In line with the NPA's vision, BeWell has taken a leading role in formulating a unique ecosystem of pharmacy partners uniting marketing agencies, PGD-based service providers, and delivery method partners - integrating their capabilities within the BeWell platform.

The National Pharmacy Association has announced the theme for this year's 'Ask Your Pharmacist Week' campaign - 'Meet Your Local Pharmacy Team'. The campaign, scheduled for October 30 to November 6, seeks to enhance awareness of pharmacy services and initiate dialogues with local stakeholders, highlighting the role and advantages of community pharmacy, the NPA said in a statement. NPA has organised an array of promotional activities, spanning window displays, social media engagements, partnerships with patient groups, radio and TV interviews, and visits to pharmacies by local dignitaries and politicians during the week. "AYP Week 2023 will acquaint individuals with the pharmacist's skill set and the broader community pharmacy workforce, showcasing their collaborative efforts in delivering a secure and efficient service, encompassing NHS clinical care," said Stephen Fishwick, NPA's Head of Communications. "As always, the NPA will furnish campaign resources for our members and other participants interested in engaging with this enduring initiative."

Bristol-based Titan PMR, a technology firm specialising in PMR systems for community pharmacies, is set to roll out an innovative platform named 'Titanverse,' that it claims will redefine pharmacy management, offering comprehensive solutions extending beyond prescription management. This new platform takes a versatile approach, efficiently managing all facets of pharmacy operations, from high-level management down to daily tasks, according to top company officials. "Our aim is to reshape pharmacies into genuine health hubs, providing advanced services and harnessing state-of-the-art technologies," said Tariq Muhammad, CEO of Titan PMR. "Titanverse, our latest offering, is positioned to ignite this transformation, revolutionising clinical services in the same way its predecessor revolutionised dispensing. With Titanverse, we have the vehicle to drive this vision forward, placing pharmacies at the forefront of primary care in the future." Titanverse adopts a Teams approach, catering to pharmacies with multiple locations or specific focuses. It furnishes real-time analytics and employs a color-coded rating system for swift performance evaluation. Moreover, the platform eases operations by enabling task delegation, encompassing clinical checks and dispensing, all while backing private services with adaptable templates and workflows.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has proposed a 7.5 per cent increase in all fees for pharmacies, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and foundation trainees, including those for registration and renewal from April 2024. According to the GPhC's proposal the pharmacist renewal fee would increase by £19 from £257 to £276; the pharmacy technician renewal fee would increase by £9 from £121 to £130 and the pharmacy premises renewal fee would increase by £27 from £365 to £392 Any changes would be effective from April 2024, which means fees will remain at current levels for this financial year, giving registrants and applicants time to prepare for any increase in subsequent years. Fees have been frozen for the last two years (2022 and 2023) to help reduce pressure on both pharmacy professionals and pharmacy owners. Chief Executive, Duncan Rudkin, said: "In the last few years, we have been able to avoid raising many of these fees by improving our efficiency and by using our financial reserves to cover any gap between our income and our outgoings. While we are continuing to look for ways to make savings, we now have to consider increasing fees.

Community pharmacy chain Jardines Pharmacy has partnered with patient relationship management platform Charac to launch a new app designed to digitalise its services, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate customer satisfaction. The app allows patients to order repeat prescriptions, access medicine home delivery and book consultations with their pharmacist all in one place, enabling faster pharmacist-to-patient care. By incorporating Charac's platform into its business, Jardines is able to boost prescription dispensing efficiency, helping reducing wait times for patients. Additionally, its delivery feature enables patients to track their orders directly through the app, thereby streamlining the overall patient experience. The app also minimises administrative and manual tasks for pharmacists, giving them more time to focus on helping patients and delivering the outstanding customer service. Patients of Jardines can also use the app to book appointments digitally for Pharmacy First consultations, blood pressure checks, earwax removal, travel vaccinations, and emergency contraception services. Santosh Sahu, Founder and CEO of Charac, said: "We are pleased to support Jardines Pharmacy and its patients across England. Our mission is to ensure that community pharmacies are empowered to digitalise, making care easier and more accessible for patients.

The Department of Health and Social Care aims to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, thereby enabling pharmacy technicians to provide and administer specific medicines through a patient group direction. In line with this initiative, the Department introduced a six-week consultation to assess whether registered pharmacy technicians should be authorised to dispense medicines using a PGD. The proposals, backed by all four Home Nations, apply exclusively to registered pharmacy technicians. Meanwhile, this coverage will extend to include pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland upon their achievement of registered professional status. "The proposed statutory instrument, presently applicable in England, Scotland, and Wales would offer 'clear benefits,' especially in areas such as vaccination and the provision of oral contraception and EHC," the DHSC said. According to the Department, facilitating registered pharmacy technicians to execute PGDs might amplify their workload, yet it could simultaneously enhance overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness for pharmacy teams by optimising the utilisation of skill diversity.

The pharmacy business is one of the most profitable businesses on the planet. However, the trends are changing and as we move forward in this digital world, we see a transition from traditional business practices to modern and digital business practices that change the whole scenario. In this era of advanced technology, if you don't keep up with the world, you lose the race. It is a fast-paced world where trends change every day, something might work today but it won't work tomorrow, it will be replaced with something better and more efficient whether it is a tool, a technique, a marketing strategy, or a manufacturing process. Everything is being replaced with better alternatives more than ever. Now it is time to realize this change and bring some new guns to your business arsenal. You can employ an auto attendant for your pharmacies, or build a website for online orders and deliveries. Online pharmacies are getting popular a lot and they are the future. Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to run your pharmacy business like a pro.

Well Pharmacy, the UK's leading independent pharmacy chain, has launched its new Online Doctor service in partnership with Expert Health Ltd. The service provides quick, convenient, and confidential access to prescription treatments for a wide range of conditions, without the need for in-person consultations. Patients can choose how they receive their prescriptions, with options for home delivery, collection at a local Well Pharmacy, or pickup from John Bell & Croydon. Andrew Caplan, Chief Retail Officer at Well Pharmacy, said: "Our Online Doctor service is a step forward in making healthcare more accessible and tailored to modern lifestyles. "It provides an efficient, secure, and discreet way for patients to access the treatments they need, all backed by the expertise and trustworthiness of Well Pharmacy." The launch of this service reinforces Well Pharmacy's ongoing commitment to improving access to healthcare and meeting the evolving needs of patients. By removing traditional barriers to obtaining prescriptions, Well aims to empower patients to take control of their health safely and efficiently. Andy Sloman, CEO of Expert Health Ltd, commented: "Digital healthcare becomes so much more powerful when combined with the expertise and human touch of healthcare professionals."

Titan PMR, a pioneer of cutting pharmacy technology has set up additional new team of 12 staff to cater for a deluge of independent pharmacists investing in new businesses. The company is utilising the opportunity that is underway as large chains look to sell off or close their community pharmacies, offering an opportunity for pharmacists looking to provide efficient dispensing and additional services. In January this year Lloyds Pharmacy, which was bought by a private equity firm in 2022, announced plans to close all its 237 branches inside Sainsbury's stores over the course of 2023. Currently, more than 5,500 of around 14,000 registered pharmacy premises across the UK are owned by corporates and supermarkets. Titan PMR - an innovative, cloud-based system which manages end-to-end pharmacy workflow - has become the preferred software platform especially amongst first time buyers who are keen to offer new services to patients. The new team at the Bristol-based company, hired to support this sector, sees its total workforce growing to more than 50 staff.

Over the last few years pharmacy and the role of pharmacy teams has changed dramatically. The introduction of technology and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within systems that provide healthcare and support to pharmacies holds great promise; for improving access to health, supporting patient outcomes, and optimising operational efficiency. Currently, the potential use of AI could span the whole of the medicines value chain, from AI-driven drug discovery to personalised medicines and automated dispensing systems. However, the rapid advancement of AI technology does raise several ethical concerns. This article will explore these concerns and how they can be addressed. In previous articles, I have discussed what underpins artificially intelligent machines and the importance of data. Datasets are the foundation on which AI algorithms learn and generate conclusions. The first step to understanding the potential ethical implications of AI across the pharmacy sector is to understand the data that is held within these foundational datasets. Patient privacy and data security AI systems in and outside of the pharmacy sector, which support patient care, rely heavily on vast amounts of medical data (patient medical records, PMR data, etc). However, the collection, storage, and use of such sensitive data can possibly bring significant privacy concerns. GDPR compliance is essential within the UK and ethical questions arise around data ownership, patient consent, and the possibility of data and cybersecurity breaches. As frontline healthcare professionals, we need to be able to support our patients when questions are asked about their data. For example, how can patients be sure their data is used only for its intended purposes? Is anonymised data truly safe from de-identification techniques that could expose private information?

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has stated that the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership lacks the essential transparency, efficiency, and diligence needed for success, urging a shift in its approach. The Commission's operational approach hinders its ability to meet the expectations of both the profession and the public, while prioritising government interests over their needs and preferences, RPS Chief Executive Paul Bennett (R) and President Claire Anderson have jointly said. In a blog post on September 7, the RPS leaders asserted that the Commission lacks transparency and is progressing slowly in implementing proposals that were published seven months ago. "Most pharmacy leaders are growing frustrated and increasingly impatient with the Commission's perceived lack of "meaningful progress" in enhancing leadership within the field," the pair noted. In June 2022, the four UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers (CPhOs) formed an independent Commission with leadership expertise drawn from various domains, both within and outside of pharmacy, to assess the future of professional leadership. The Pharmacy Minister Neil O'Brien recently revealed that the Commission's costs, funded by the offices of the CPhOs, amounted to £87,745.

A new report has suggested that adopting hub and spoke dispensing model could be a realistic and affordable option for many pharmacies across the UK, not just a select few. The report released by Centred Solutions highlighted several evidence-based benefits of this model, including a return on investment (ROI) within two years for an average pharmacy, debunking the skepticism that has long surrounded the model. Analysis by the software and technology company found that the ROI, from setting up a hub and all operational costs (excluding transport), can be achieved through either re-directing time saved into delivering services, improving resource efficiencies, or a combination of both. One of the key findings is the 81 per cent reduction in payroll costs per item-from 99p in a pharmacy to just 19p in a hub. The report also revealed that by shifting to a hub and spoke model, pharmacies could offload 50 per cent of total dispensing volumes (70-80 per cent of repeat dispensing) from their branches, creating much-needed capacity. The report also projected an average stock reduction of 50 per cent in the first year for pharmacy branches moving to this model of dispensing.

Omnicell UK & Ireland, a leading provider of pharmacy and nursing care automation solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Gollmann to integrate the German manufacturers' advanced robotic storage and dispensing technology into its retail and central pharmacy solutions portfolio. This collaboration aims to address the increasing pressure on community pharmacies and hospitals to enhance patient safety and meet strict regulatory standards while improving operational efficiency. By combining Omnicell's extensive expertise with Gollmann's innovative technology, the partnership intends to streamline real-time medication dispensing and loading activities, thereby delivering improved workflows and outcomes. Nnamdi Njoku, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Omnicell, highlighted the company's commitment to providing software and automation solutions to ensure "safe, efficient medication and supply management across the healthcare continuum." "Through strategic relationships with technology leaders like Gollmann, and others announced earlier this month with TrackTraceRX, LSPedia, and Follett, we are growing our solutions portfolio as we seek to meet the evolving needs of our global customers, while being focused on driving greater efficiency and working to improve patient safety across hospital and retail settings," he said.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced plans to update the pharmacy inspection process by adopting a more targeted and flexible approach. The GPhC inspects registered pharmacies in Great Britain to ensure they meet required standards, assuring patients and the public of safe, effective care. During its Council meeting today (12), the pharmacy regulator outlined plans to improve its inspection approach, including the introduction of shorter, more focused inspections alongside the existing full inspections, to increase efficiency and enable more inspection activity. Inspectors can switch to a full inspection if they believe it is necessary or beneficial. Pharmacies being inspected for the first time will automatically undergo a full inspection. In addition to focused and full inspections, other types, such as re-inspections, intelligence-led inspections, and themed inspections, will also continue.

Omnicell Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Omnicell - an American healthcare technology company, has signed an agreement with the shareholders of Hub and Spoke Innovations Limited to acquire Hub and Spoke Innovations. Hub and Spoke Innovations Limited is distributor of the Pharmaself24 prescription collection kiosk in Great Britain. The move will complement Omnicell's total solution technology portfolio for retail pharmacy in the UK, including a pack-pick dispensing robot, automated MDS filling machine and eMAR solution, thereby helping pharmacies to improve workflows and offer a 24/7 access to medications and patient care. It will also help community pharmacies achieve their goals, as they increasingly look at ways to make their businesses more efficient and free up staff to offer more pharmaceutical care and services to patients. In short, the deal would enable Omnicell to offer a wider range of digital technologies to streamline retail pharmacy operations, allowing pharmacists to spend more time with patients and focus on value-added, revenue-generating healthcare services, such as vaccinations.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has appointed Robbie Turner as chief transformation officer, to work closely with LPCs as part of its newly launched Transforming Pharmacy Representation (TAPR) programme. PSNC launched the TAPR Programme in response to the contractor vote in favour of the Review Steering Group's proposals. As part of the programme - alongside actioning the recommendations for PSNC - there will be support for LPCs to implement their proposals. Williams will be responsible for leading, driving, and having oversight of the TAPR workstream to increase efficiency and outcomes across the network of LPCs in England. This will include the provision of specialist hands-on guidance and support to LPC members and officers, to promote implementation of the RSG proposals, best practice and challenging the status quo. Williams was formerly chief officer of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire LPC and subsequently Director for England and Director of Pharmacy and Member Experience at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a new policy outlining how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to support pharmacy practice and improve patient care. The content has been developed in consultation with RPS members, Expert Advisory Group members, Board members, multi-professional experts in digital technology and AI, and external stakeholders including the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The policy highlights the opportunities, challenges and potential applications of AI within pharmacy now and in the future. RPS President, Professor Claire Anderson, acknowledges that AI technologies have the potential to transform pharmacy practice, noting that "there are some great examples where it's already in use." "We must optimise the opportunities that these advancing technologies can bring to enhance patient access to care, improve patient experience, support clinical decision making and improve the safety and efficiency of the medicines supply chain. "Our policy provides a framework to ensure AI is harnessed safely and effectively to support pharmacists and patients," she adds.