NHSE has announced it will pilot an early career pathway in 2026/27 to onboard newly registered pharmacists with prescribing qualifications as they enter the workforce.
An NHS England (NHSE) official recently revealed plans for this initiative, aimed at supporting newly registered pharmacist prescribers. During an NHSE webinar, pharmacy workforce dean Shane Costigan emphasized that the commissioner is focusing on a pathway for pharmacists who will register as independent prescribers (IPs) starting next summer.
NHSE has confirmed it will test a cross-sector onboarding pathway for these pharmacists from 2026, covering all practice areas, including community pharmacy.
Costigan highlighted that NHSE recognizes the existing workforce's skills and knowledge to achieve key ambitions. The goal is to provide a range of support offers to help pharmacy professionals optimize, grow, and deliver on these goals. Additionally, NHSE is exploring how to best utilize the skill set of new IP pharmacists when they join the register from next summer, a time when all newly qualified pharmacists will become IPs upon registration.
National Prescribing Service?
This development follows NHSE's announcement last month about beginning discussions with Community Pharmacy England (CPE) on a national service for community pharmacy prescribing, starting next April. In a letter to integrated care boards (ICBs), NHSE outlined next steps after the community pharmacy independent prescribing pathfinder programme ends on December 31.
Meanwhile, NHSE has also directed ICBs to introduce prescribing services in pharmacies next year. A new planning framework mandates that ICBs must roll out prescribing-based services in community pharmacies during 2026/27 to enhance primary care access and expand the role of community pharmacy.
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