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 third round of Regional Committee meetings in 2025.
Across all of the Regional Committees, ongoing pressure and targets around service delivery were raised as a concern in community, with high workload and no additional staffing. In particular, the NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service, the NHS New Medicine Service, and the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service were mentioned, as well as weight loss and travel services. PDA members are advised to look at the GPhC’s recent guidance around target setting and incentivisation.
In the hospital sector, members discussed the 3.6% NHS pay increase in England, and PDA members are encouraged to express their views on this in a survey.
Some of the other issues discussed at the Regional Committee meetings included:
Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
In Scotland, alongside the increasing delivery of services, members working in community reported pressure to obtain the Independent Prescribing (IP) qualification. Hospital based pharmacists continue to report issues with staffing and high stress levels. Locums highlighted that patients were having difficulty being able to access GP, dentist, and sometimes optician appointments, which has been impacting on pharmacy with increased services as well as inappropriate referrals.
In Northern Ireland, following Reform 25, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) decided to increase the annual retention fees from £398 to £477, to send annual retention notices via email, with a paper copy available upon request, and to allow registrants the option to pay their annual retention fee in four instalments via direct debit. PDA members had previously shared their views on this in a survey, which informed the consultation response. 97.56% of PDA members indicated that they did not agree with the fees increase or consider it reasonable, particularly as wages have not increased in some pharmacy sectors in line with this increase. However, 82.32% of PDA members welcomed the move for annual retention notices to be sent via email. The biggest win for PDA members is the option to pay in instalments, which we have been campaigning on since 2023.
Northern England
In community, the issue of finding a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) is still an issue. In addition, members reported the use of automated accuracy checking systems in some multiples instead of using the Accuracy Checking Technician (ACT) model.
Despite many years to prepare for the first cohort of new graduates who will qualify with IP, there are numerous issues. These include pressure for existing pharmacists to become DPPs, often with no offer of extra pay or even extra resource to accommodate the extra work involved. Trainees are unable to find trainee places with DPPs or have questions over the amount of time the DPP will be able to provide for their supervision. Some trainees who took an extra year to complete their MPharm from 2020 and therefore received the same IP training with the 2021 cohort they learned alongside have also been told they nevertheless will not be awarded IP at qualification.
Locums drew attention to a decrease in pay, alongside fewer shifts being available, especially now that a lot of community pharmacies have closed.
Wales, West England and the Channel Isles
In community, members also raised the issues surrounding DPPs.
Primary care members discussed the NHS restructure, particularly in relation to cuts at Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and the subsequent mergers of ICBs. Some merged ICBs may be looking after a population the size of Wales.
Locums noted that rates seem to be area specific.
Southeast England
Members working in community discussed the role of pharmacist prescribers, particularly as services are expanding. It was felt that more guidance is needed around the scope for services such as weight loss, as well as training around managing the clinics.
Locums highlighted an increasing emphasis and requirement from some multiples that locums are trained and expected to provide all services with little or no compensation for the service provision or training costs. Services are wide ranging and include but are not limited to flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, chlamydia treatment services, weight management, and travel clinics. Where locums are expected to provide all services, this raises a question around whether locums are being treated as employees.
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.
Those interested in becoming a PDA Rep can find out more by clicking here.
Get involved
- Keep an eye out for upcoming PDA events
Learn more
- Regional Committees
- Organisational Structure
- NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service
- NHS New Medicine Service
- NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service
- Target setting and incentivisation: the responsibilities of pharmacy teams and owners
- NHS pay update
- Reform 2025: Fees/Notices/Direct Debits
- PDA responds to PSNI Reform 25 Consultation
- ICB restructure: Model blueprint
- Commissioning support units to close
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