Latest ARRS pharmacist recruitment figures cause concern

The Government says it has met its target of recruiting 26,000 additional primary care professionals – including pharmacists – into GP practices one year early, provoking a strong reaction from pharmacy bodies.

The Company Chemists’ Association estimates that 8,800 pharmacists have been recruited into primary care since March 2019, which is an increase of over 900 pharmacists in the last quarter alone.

Chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “This announcement confirms that the NHS is continuing to recruit pharmacists and other healthcare professionals from elsewhere within the health system, to plug gaps in general practice. Whilst this is undoubtably good news for GPs, it is creating significant problems for the rest of the NHS.

“Despite our continued warnings of a workforce crisis in pharmacy, this short-sighted recruitment drive continues at pace. It is clear that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

“If the Government and NHS want pharmacies to take on more workload to help recover access to primary care, they must immediately halt further recruitment of pharmacists into GP surgeries. With the target now met, the corrosive impact of the ARRS on community pharmacy must be stopped”.