Managing the pace of change

Workforce demands, a changing healthcare agenda and scientific and technological breakthroughs have necessitated widespread changes in the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, as well as the content of pre- and post-registration training. Traditional tasks such as prescribing are now technology led, and some new drugs have gained almost immediate widespread acceptance. The challenge of ensuring that all pharmacists are fit to practice, addressing issues of greater decision making and accountability among others, increases as science and technology advance at an even faster rate.

Proposed workforce impact

• Evolving skills and training requirements necessitate an adaptive workforce.
• The pharmacist workforce is increasingly dissatisfied and fatigued.
• Older, more experienced pharmacists are resistant to change and leave the profession voluntarily or are forced off the register.

Sources or references

• http://www.cfwi.org.uk/documents/workforce-risks-and-opportunities-pharmacy
• http://www.rpharms.com/current-campaigns-pdfs/workplacepressures.pdf

Additional research questions

• How frequently will revalidation assessments take place?
• How will such training be integrated effectively at post-registration level?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.