The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) president has called for a “national service framework” in community pharmacy in England to support newly qualified pharmacists who graduate as independent prescribers.

Claire Anderson wrote in a blog post today (January 6) that pharmacists’ prescribing skills need to be “utilised from the start of their careers – wherever they are in Great Britain”.

She said the framework should emulate commissioned independent prescribing services already in place in Scotland through the Pharmacy First plus service, and in Wales through the pharmacy independent prescribing service.

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Through her work as a University of Nottingham professor, Anderson has seen first-hand how “well-prepared the students are” in the first cohort of independent prescribers who will graduate this year.

“But they will need us all to help support them as they come into the workforce and find their feet,” she said.

“There’s a big role to play for those of us already established in our practice or professional lives – to encourage, support and mentor our newly-qualified pharmacist colleagues, as well as facilitate time and space for their continued development.”

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Anderson added that last year, she worked on research analysing the impact of the new prescribing roles on care teams, services and the whole system.

“It’s no exaggeration to say it will transform the way clinical teams work, and it’s going to have effects right across the system. I am really optimistic it will greatly enhance healthcare for patients,” she said.

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Anderson’s term as the RPS president will come to an end this year once the organisation transitions to becoming a royal college.

It follows the announcement in August that the RPS will “no longer require the existing chief officer roles”, outside of the chief executive position, as part of planned changes to its leadership team.

In the same month, Anderson received the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) distinguished service award for her “lasting impact on the international pharmacy community”.