Following the NHSE announcement in March 2025 that ICBs needed to cut their budgets by 50%, and that CSUs and NHSE itself are to be abolished, pharmacists working in these organisations have been facing a huge period of uncertainty and the prospect of potential redundancy.
The PDA has been working hard both nationally and locally to engage with as many ICB employers as possible and represent members at meetings with their employers. There have been PDA member meetings for ICB employees and a briefing on redundancy in the NHS based upon the currently available information. The PDA has also met with groups of members in ICB clusters, attended joint union meetings and supported PDA Reps in ICBs to further assist local members. This work is still ongoing.
Importantly, many members have stepped forward to become PDA Workplace Representatives to be the local presence of the PDA in the workplace during this time of change. If there is a local rep, they should be members’ first port of call to the PDA. Where there is no local rep yet in place at an employer, local members are encouraged to step forward and fill the role as soon as they are able to do so. Pharmacists who wish to find out more about becoming a PDA Rep should please email [email protected]. Free training and support will be given for this role.
The situation regarding these organisational changes continues to evolve, with timelines being amended. It is understood that the new cluster arrangements may have been agreed, and the chief executives and chairs have been decided but not formally announced due to parliament being on recess. However, the formal announcement is expected to happen imminently. Meanwhile, there is still no clarity on whether there will be a centrally funded voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme and if there is no funding, whether the ICBs will be able to provide a VR scheme at all. The PDA advocates for a round of VR before any compulsory redundancies are made, as this helps mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies required.
Many decisions have not yet been confirmed and it has become clear that the government’s deadline of achieving all the required cuts by end of December 2025 is not achievable. While the executive restructures will be carried out before the end of this year, it is highly likely that the rest of the restructure, which affects most staff, including medicines optimisation teams, will not happen until quarter 4. Currently, there is still no clarity about where medicines optimisations teams, who were identified in the model blueprint as sitting outside the ICB, will be placed.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director said, “This is not the first large scale NHS restructure, and it will not be the last. The PDA will continue to act on behalf of our members on four fronts:
- As the largest UK pharmacists’ body, we will continue to seek to influence plans for the delivery of pharmacy through the NHS in the 10 Year plan, and beyond.
- As a trade union that is part of the NHS Staff Side structures, we will be working alongside our colleagues in other health unions to influence the national government’s approach and to act collectively to challenge, where necessary.
- At each ICB and at other NHS employers, we will support our members to become local PDA Reps if there is not one already in place. Local PDA Reps can engage with local management to ensure appropriate treatment of employees and the application of agreed policy. PDA Reps can also push for appropriate local communication, updating employees on the process and decisions, as so often better communication would avoid many issues arising and reduce stress for all involved. Once trained, PDA Reps can also support individuals with specific concerns.
- If an individual is being treated in breach of agreed processes and/or the law, if their individual situation is particularly complex, or if an outcome requires an individual to receive legal advice before signing an agreement, we can support those individuals with specific casework advice and representation in accordance with the specific facts of their situation.”
With significant numbers of members in the NHS concerned about changes every effort will be made to provide a representative at meetings. However, due to the large-scale nature of the exercise, the PDA will be unable to offer individual representation for every redundancy consultation meeting, nor is this necessary in many cases. The PDA will prioritise representation for meetings when matters are contentious because of some circumstances that are affecting the individual member. For example, if they have a disability, have caring or childcare commitments, etc., that will mean the proposed changes will adversely affect them and could potentially be unlawful. In some cases, members may also be advised to raise grievances about their individual issues, for which representation would then usually be provided for the formal meetings that will follow. The PDA has an excellent track record in securing good outcomes for pharmacists in similar circumstances across all sectors of practice, including those working in the NHS.
PDA members are encouraged to contact the PDA regarding collective issues at their workplace. Members can email [email protected]. Members with individual and specific enquiries can contact the PDA Member Support Centre.
Learn more
- Potential redundancies in ICBs, CSUs and NHSE
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook
- Redundancy – a guide for PDA members
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