There are four PDA Regional Committees:
- Region 1 – Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
- Region 2 – Northern England
- Region 3 – Wales, West England and the Channel Isles
- Region 4 – Southeast England
Below are details of some of the concerns that were discussed at the second round of Regional Committee meetings in 2025.
Across all meetings, members were delighted that PDA Union recognition has been secured at Superdrug. There were 94% of votes in support, following a ballot earlier in the year.
Community representatives noted that the PDA continues to support members with past benefits in the Boots pension scheme. Any members affected by this are advised to read the latest PDA update.
The Channel 4 Dispatches programme and associated prominence in the media has led to concerns being voiced from primary care pharmacists about the clinical checks which they are potentially agreeing to have completed at the request of private weight loss medicine providers. Members advised that they have been seeing patients with severe side effects, sometimes requiring referral to A&E. In Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), members reported complications and side effects with a lack of proper counselling and a risk of patient harm.
Following ongoing issues experienced by locums which have been raised at Regional Committee meetings, the PDA is launching a series of surveys for locum pharmacists to help inform its advocacy, policy positions, and the direction of work to help improve conditions for locum pharmacists. The PDA is encouraging all locums to have their say and asks that they answer all questions as fully and accurately as possible, as well as sharing surveys widely with their fellow locum pharmacist colleagues.
The Regional Committees also discussed the transition of the RPS from a members’ body to a the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Some of the other issues discussed at the Regional Committee meetings included:
Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
Hospital based pharmacists in Scotland have been reporting very high workloads with mounting stress levels and are concerned that there is no likely resolution from management.
Scottish members highlighted challenges around working as a locum, including low rates, lack of professional respect and difficulty accessing and funding training to be an Independent Prescriber (IP).
In Northern Ireland, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched Reform 25, which lays out proposed changes around how retention fees are to be collected, how pharmacists are to be communicated with, and the option for the fees to be paid via instalments. The PDA ran a member survey and meeting to inform its response, which is now available to read online.
Negotiations have begun around the annual pay uplift for those working in GP Federations NI (GPFEDNI), and the PDA is pressing for a move toward fair structuring of pharmacist pay for the sector. Any member wishing to discuss this should contact Una O’Farrell, PDA National Officer for Northern Ireland.
Northern England
In community, members are finding that pressures around targets continue to increase, despite moving out of the winter months. This is impacting on Pharmacy First Services and there are also increased contraception service targets.
Regional Committee members working in primary care highlighted the increasing trend of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) becoming limited companies and the possibility that they are doing so to reduce liabilities rather than in the best interests of staff and patients. Staff employed by such PCNs are undergoing TUPE processes and any members with queries around this should contact the PDA Member Support Centre. Potential issues of private businesses providing NHS services that close while unable to meet their liabilities was recently illustrated by this case.
Wales, West England and the Channel Isles
In the hospital sector, members working in the NHS are awaiting the 2025 pay review announcement from government which is expected in April.
The Regional Committee debated support for pharmacists working remotely, who often feel clinically isolated and can be asked to work beyond their capabilities. Members are reminded of the PDA guidance on Structured Medication Reviews. The committee considered that there may be overlap between remote roles and pharmacists with disabilities, so this may be something for the PDA Ability Network to explore.
Southeast England
As in Northern England, members in community reported increased pressure to deliver targets around Pharmacy First. In particular, concerns were raised about managers expecting pharmacists to convert over the counter conversations to Pharmacy First, even where there is no patient benefit. The committee felt that in some cases, commercial gains are outweighing clinical reasons and Responsible Pharmacists’ (RPs) decisions are being undermined.
Members working in primary care discussed the ongoing issues around funding. The PDA recently welcomed the announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that they have agreed to a 7.2% boost to funding of GP practice contracts and encouraged employers to ensure that the use of increased funding received under their new contract benefits all those they employ.
Locums noted that community pharmacies are sometimes still being closed at short notice even though a locum pharmacist offered to cover the shift. The committee expressed disappointment that employers are unwilling to pay just one or two pounds extra per hour to hire a locum and keep pharmacies open, instead choosing to keep them shut, meaning that patients potentially suffer by being unable to access their medicines. The disappointment also extends to the NHS who are the client of these contractors but do not take sufficient action to ensure the pharmacies open for the public.
Matters raised by individuals and groups of members which are discussed at regional level are reported to the National Executive Committee (NEC), where PDA Union policy is set. Along with thousands of cases supported by the PDA each year, member surveys, and other sources of information, the Regional Committees help the PDA keep up to date with what is happening across all areas of practice.
Members needing support with issues at their workplace should contact the PDA Member Support Centre, while wider concerns about developments or trends in pharmacy can be shared with the local Regional Committee.
The Regional Committees are part of the PDA’s democratic structure and are formed to represent members’ views.
Get involved
- Those interested in becoming a PDA Rep can find out more by clicking here.
- PDA members can register for an upcoming event here.
Learn more
- PDA Union recognition secured at Superdrug with 94% of votes in support
- Boots Pension Scheme: February 2025 Update
- PDA IN THE NEWS: Dispatches highlights safety concerns around online prescribing of weight loss medication
- PDA seeks locum pharmacists’ views on rates of pay
- Navigating the transition of the RPS from a members’ body to a charity; the Royal College of Pharmacy
- My future as a locum pharmacist
- Reform 2025: Fees/Notices/Direct Debits
- PDA responds to PSNI Reform 25 Consultation
- PDA is supporting members impacted by insolvency at West Cambs GP Federation
- NHS pay update
- Guidance on Structured Medication Reviews
- Regional Committees
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