Deprescribing Older Patients: A Practical Framework for Primary Care Networks

17th July 2026

• What is deprescribing in older patients?
• When should medicines be deprescribed?
• How can PCNs implement a safe deprescribing framework?
• What are the common barriers to deprescribing?
• Can Clinical Pharmacists deprescribe?

Older patients often take multiple medicines to manage long-term conditions. While many remain appropriate, changing health, frailty, and treatment goals can alter the balance of benefit and risk. For PCNs, a structured approach to deprescribing older patients supports safer medicines optimisation and helps ensure every medicine continues to provide meaningful benefit. Getting this right makes it a routine part of clinical practice.

Key Takeaways

• Structured, patient-led deprescribing supports safer prescribing and may reduce medication-related harm for older patients.
• Pharmacy leadership: Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are best placed to lead this within Structured Medication Reviews.
• Operational safety: A robust PCN framework ensures safe, governed, and prioritised medication reduction across the network.

What is deprescribing in older patients?

Deprescribing in older people is the planned dose reduction or stopping of medication causing harm or no longer providing benefit. It optimises care as physiology changes – critical for older adults facing frailty, polypharmacy, or adverse drug reaction risks. Importantly, not all polypharmacy is inappropriate. The goal is to optimise treatment rather than simply reduce the number of prescriptions.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Effective deprescribing isn’t about reducing medicines for the sake of it. It’s about ensuring every medicine still provides meaningful benefit for the individual patient. A structured review, supported by the right pharmacy team, helps clinicians make safe, person-centred decisions.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

When should medicines be deprescribed?

Consider deprescribing when harm outweighs benefit. This includes changes in frailty, resolved indications, hospital discharge, or adverse drug reactions. Safe deprescribing for older patients requires assessing health status, treatment burden and patient goals.

 NICE guidance on multimorbidity highlights tailoring care to the individual. Clinical judgement can be supported by the STOPP/START criteria, which identify potentially inappropriate medicines and flag omissions.

How can PCNs implement a safe deprescribing framework?

A structured, multidisciplinary approach is essential. Here is a practical 7-stage deprescribing framework for PCNs:

Stage	Goal
Identify	Find high-risk patients
Review	Complete an SMR
Assess	Balance benefits and risks
Decide	Shared decision-making
Plan	Taper safely where needed
Monitor	Review outcomes
Document	Communicate and record

1. Identify: Target patients with problematic polypharmacy or frailty criteria using clinical system searches.
2. Review: Conduct a medication review to understand the full clinical picture.
3. Assess: Evaluate each medicine against current health status and life expectancy.
4. Decide: Discuss options with the patient, carers, care home staff, or community pharmacy.
5. Plan: Develop a step-wise tapering plan where stopping suddenly is contraindicated.
6. Monitor: Schedule follow-ups to check for withdrawal symptoms, recurrence of the original condition, and whether the change continues to meet the patient’s goals.
7. Document: Record all decisions and inform the wider healthcare team.

Medicines that commonly require careful deprescribing consideration:

• Sedatives and hypnotics
• Anticholinergics
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
• Antihypertensives

These medicines should never be stopped solely because they belong to one of these groups. Decisions should always be based on individual clinical assessment.

What are the common barriers to deprescribing?

Real-world barriers slow implementation: patient concerns, multiple prescribers, time pressures, fear of withdrawal effects, and inconsistent documentation. Recognising these is the first step to addressing them within a PCN governance framework.

Can Clinical Pharmacists deprescribe?

Yes, a clinical pharmacist is highly qualified to lead deprescribing in older patients – assessing complex regimens and safely managing tapering. Pharmacy Technicians support this by gathering medication histories and assisting with monitoring. Together, this team model embeds deprescribing into routine care home pharmacy services and general practice.

FAQs

Supporting safe deprescribing across your PCN

Embedding safe deprescribing for older patients into routine practice takes time, clinical expertise, and consistent follow-up. Whether expanding Structured Medication Reviews or strengthening medicines optimisation across your PCN, the right pharmacy workforce makes the process more effective and sustainable.

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Inhaler Technique in Primary Care: A PCN Pharmacist’s Guide

6th July 2026

• Why is inhaler technique in primary care so important?
• Why should inhaler adherence and technique be assessed together?
• Which patients should be prioritised for an inhaler review?
• How should PCN pharmacists assess inhaler technique in primary care?
• What role do Pharmacy Technicians play in inhaler technique assessment?

Inhaler technique in primary care is an essential part of respiratory medicines optimisation. NICE guidance recommends checking inhaler technique in Primary Care and adherence before escalating treatment for patients whose asthma is not well controlled. Yet poor device use remains one of the most common and under addressed causes of uncontrolled asthma and COPD. A structured inhaler technique assessment helps Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians identify poor device use, address inhaler adherence, and improve asthma and COPD reviews across PCNs. Using EMIS searches to identify high-risk patients allows pharmacy teams to prioritise respiratory reviews where they will have the greatest impact.

Key Takeaways

• Targeted intervention: Structured reviews address the main causes of respiratory exacerbations-poor device technique and suboptimal inhaler adherence.
• Multidisciplinary roles: Pharmacy Technicians drive initial screenings and data quality, freeing Clinical Pharmacists to lead therapy optimisation.
• Data-driven care: EMIS searches identify high-risk cohorts, such as frequent reliever users, for prioritised respiratory medicines optimisation.

Why is inhaler technique in primary care so important?

Many patients with asthma or COPD receive a fraction of their intended dose due to incorrect device use. This is often mistaken for disease progression, leading to unnecessary treatment escalation. A robust inhaler technique in primary care review ensures patients benefit from their prescribed therapy before any step-up is considered. Getting this right can improve disease control, reduce unnecessary treatment escalation, and support better respiratory outcomes. According to Asthma + Lung UK, correcting technique is one of the most impactful interventions a healthcare professional can make.

Why should inhaler adherence and technique be assessed together?

Poor device technique and poor adherence are closely linked. A patient may have good technique but still under-use their preventer inhaler, or they may over-rely on their reliever because the preventer is not working effectively. Assessing both during a medication review allows a PCN pharmacist to build a complete picture of a patient’s respiratory management. This supports shared decision making and helps patients understand the link between consistent adherence and asthma control or COPD management.

During every inhaler review, consider:

• Is the device appropriate for this patient?
• Can the patient demonstrate correct device use?
• Are preventer inhalers being collected regularly?
• Is there evidence of reliever overuse?
• Does the patient understand the purpose of each inhaler?
• Does the patient need a follow-up review?

Which patients should be prioritised for an inhaler review?

Not every patient needs an urgent review, but some cohorts carry a disproportionate risk. A PCN pharmacist should use EMIS searches to proactively identify and recall high-risk patients. Priority cohorts include:

• Patients requiring frequent SABA inhalers or showing evidence of reliever overuse
• Patients with repeated exacerbations or hospital admissions
• Those overdue for their annual respiratory review
• Patients with poor preventer inhaler collection rates
• Recent hospital discharges following a respiratory admission
• Patients managing multiple inhaler devices
• Those recorded with poor asthma control or uncontrolled COPD

This targeted approach to respiratory medicines optimisation ensures clinical time is directed where it will have the greatest impact.

How should PCN pharmacists assess inhaler technique in primary care?

A systematic approach to inhaler technique in primary care ensures consistency across the PCN, aligning with NICE guidance on respiratory care. Implementing a structured workflow is best practice, with Pharmacy Technicians supporting initial screenings and Clinical Pharmacists leading clinical decision-making.

Common inhaler review workflow

1. Confirm device: Ensure the prescribed device matches the patient’s inspiratory capacity.
2. Ask the patient to demonstrate: Observe their current technique without prompting.
3. Observe errors: Look for common mistakes, such as failing to exhale fully or poor coordination with metered-dose inhalers.
4. Correct technique: Use the teach-back method to guide the correct steps.
5. Repeat demonstration: Confirm they can now perform correct device use independently.
6. Record findings: Document the assessment and any interventions in the clinical system.
7. Arrange follow-up: Schedule a respiratory review to ensure improved technique is maintained.

Different devices require different assessment points. Familiarity with both dry powder and metered-dose inhalers is essential for any pharmacist delivering inhaler optimisation.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Before increasing inhaled treatment, practices should be confident the patient is receiving the medicine as intended. Reviewing inhaler technique alongside adherence helps Clinical Pharmacists identify the real cause of poor control and target support where it will make the greatest difference.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

What role do Pharmacy Technicians play in inhaler technique assessment?

Pharmacy Technicians are integral to multidisciplinary respiratory care. They manage data queries, conduct patient outreach, and perform initial inhaler reviews. This frees Clinical Pharmacists to handle complex Structured Medication Reviews and therapy changes for patients with uncontrolled asthma or COPD. This model is a core component of effective Clinical Pharmacist services. It reflects how pharmacists in primary care can work at the top of their licence.

FAQs

Looking to strengthen respiratory care across your PCN?

If your PCN wants to reduce avoidable exacerbations through structured respiratory reviews, we can help. Our Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians integrate with your team to deliver proactive respiratory care pathways.

Get in touch →

Reducing Medication-Related Hospital Admissions: A PCN Toolkit

1st July 2026

• What causes medication-related hospital admissions?
• Which high-risk medicines contribute most to medication-related hospital admissions?
• Why is transfer of care a high-risk point for medication safety?
• How can pharmacists reduce hospital admissions?
• Who should PCNs prioritise first?
• PCN toolkit: reducing medication-related hospital admissions

A significant proportion of medication-related hospital admissions may be preventable through safer prescribing, effective monitoring, and robust medicines reconciliation. For Primary Care Networks (PCNs), this means identifying high-risk patients early. Using proven tools such as PINCER allows teams to act before harm occurs. Research suggests adverse drug reactions account for approximately 6.5% of hospital admissions, with older adults and those with problematic polypharmacy at greatest risk.

Key Takeaways

• Proactive surveillance: Using tools like PINCER identifies patients at risk from hazardous prescribing before an admission happens.
• High-risk focus: Prioritising interventions around high-risk medicines such as NSAIDs, anticoagulants, and diuretics yields the greatest reduction in preventable harm.
• Multidisciplinary approach: Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians working collaboratively provide the necessary capacity for robust medicines reconciliation and safer transfers of care.

What causes medication-related hospital admissions?

Medication-related hospital admissions primarily stem from prescribing errors, inadequate monitoring, and problematic polypharmacy. Older adults with frailty or multimorbidity face the greatest risk. A prescribing cascade can develop. New medications are added to treat side effects of existing ones, compounding the medication burden. Risk stratification tools help PCNs focus limited capacity where it will have the greatest impact.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Reducing medication-related hospital admissions isn’t achieved through one medication review. It comes from consistently identifying patients at greatest risk, acting on prescribing issues early, and ensuring medicines are reviewed at every care transition. Embedded pharmacy teams make a measurable difference to patient safety.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

Which high-risk medicines contribute most to medication-related hospital admissions?

Certain medicines are consistently associated with a higher risk of medication-related hospital admissions, particularly where monitoring or follow-up is inadequate.

Medicine	Common risk	PCN action
NSAIDs	GI bleed	Review need and gastroprotection
Anticoagulants	Bleeding	Monitor and review regularly
Diuretics	Acute kidney injury	Monitor renal function
ACE inhibitors	Renal impairment	Review bloods
Insulin	Hypoglycaemia	Structured medication review

Why is transfer of care a high-risk point for medication safety?

Transfer of care is one of the most frequently overlooked causes of preventable medication harm. When patients move between care settings, crucial prescribing information is often missed. Inappropriate medications can continue, or omitted drugs go undetected. Robust medicines reconciliation at every transition point is essential. It ensures changes made in secondary care are reflected in the patient’s primary care record.

How can pharmacists reduce hospital admissions?

Clinical Pharmacists play a pivotal role in reducing medication-related hospital admissions. Pharmacist-led  interventions, such as PINCER, have been shown to significantly decrease hazardous prescribing in primary care. PCNs can also utilise their clinical pharmacy teams to deliver Structured Medication Reviews. These target patients with problematic polypharmacy, actively deprescribing where appropriate.

Who should PCNs prioritise first?

Not every patient carries the same level of risk. PCNs should focus initial efforts on patients who are:

• Taking 10 or more medicines
• Recently discharged from hospital
• Prescribed anticoagulants or insulin
• Experiencing recurrent falls
• Living in a care home
• Identified as having frailty

PCN toolkit: reducing medication-related hospital admissions

Action	Why it matters
Run PINCER searches	Identifies hazardous prescribing
Prioritise patients with problematic polypharmacy	Focuses resources where risk is highest
Complete medicines reconciliation after discharge	Prevents discrepancies between care settings
Review high-risk medicines	Reduces preventable adverse drug events
Monitor overdue blood tests	Identifies medicines requiring intervention
Audit prescribing safety indicators	Supports continuous quality improvement

FAQs

Looking for support with your PCN pharmacy workforce?

Reducing medication-related hospital admissions is rarely about one intervention. The greatest improvements come when PCNs combine risk stratification, pharmacist-led reviews, medicines reconciliation, and continuous prescribing safetymonitoring into one coordinated approach.

If your PCN wants to reduce medication-related hospital admissions, our Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians can help. Our Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians help PCNs identify high-risk patients, strengthen prescribing safety and build sustainable systems that assist medicines optimisation across every stage of care.

Get in touch →

Annual Leave Pharmacist Cover for GP Practices and PCNs

26th June 2026

When your clinical pharmacist takes annual leave, patient care shouldn’t slow down. Yet many GP practices only begin searching for pharmacist holiday cover for their GP practice once leave is already booked – by then, options are limited and disruption is harder to avoid. Planning ahead for annual leave pharmacist cover prevents these operational bottlenecks and keeps your clinical pharmacy service running without disruption.

• Why does planned cover matter for GP practices?
• What happens if you don’t arrange annual leave pharmacist cover?
• What should planned pharmacist cover include?
• Can remote clinical pharmacists provide annual leave cover?
• When should you arrange annual leave pharmacist cover?

Key Takeaways

• Continuity of care: Planned cover maintains safe, uninterrupted patient support during clinical pharmacist absences.
• Workload protection: Without cover, practices face immediate medication backlogs, delayed reviews, and increased GP workload.
• Cost-efficiency: Planned pharmacist cover is more effective and budget-friendly than reacting with last-minute locum arrangements.
• Flexible delivery: Experienced clinical pharmacists can provide temporary clinical pharmacist cover either remotely or on-site.

Why does planned cover matter for GP practices?

NHS England recognises clinical pharmacists as an integral part of the multidisciplinary primary care workforce, supporting medicines optimisation, prescribing and long-term condition management. When a clinical pharmacist takes planned leave, these critical responsibilities do not pause.

Without appropriate planned pharmacist cover, practices often see an immediate rise in prescription queries. The processing of hospital discharge medication slows down, and administrative backlogs grow rapidly. By arranging this cover in advance, practices protect their workforce and ensure patients receive timely care.

Annual leave is one of the few workforce absences that can be planned months in advance. Unlike unexpected sickness or emergency leave, practices have an opportunity to arrange pharmacist cover early, reducing operational risk and maintaining service continuity. Planning ahead also gives practices greater flexibility when choosing between remote support, temporary clinical pharmacist cover and other workforce solutions.

What happens if you don’t arrange annual leave pharmacist cover?

Many practices attempt to absorb the workload when a clinical pharmacist is away. While this might seem manageable for a day or two, longer absences quickly create operational strain.

Medication reviews are postponed, and prescription requests take longer to process. GPs find themselves dealing with tasks normally managed by the clinical pharmacy team. This increases pressure on clinicians and affects patient experience. Proactively organising pharmacist holiday cover for your GP practice prevents these issues before they impact the wider team.

For smaller practices with a single clinical pharmacist, even a short period of clinical pharmacist absence cover can make a significant difference to day-to-day operations.

What should planned pharmacist cover include?

Effective cover should go beyond simply processing prescriptions. An experienced professional should be able to continue delivering the core clinical pharmacist services your practice relies on.

Without annual leave pharmacist cover	With planned pharmacist cover
Medication review backlogs	Medication reviews continue uninterrupted
Increased GP workload	GPs remain focused on complex clinical cases
Delayed medicines optimisation	Continuity of medicines optimisation
Last-minute locum costs	Planned workforce continuity
Reduced patient experience	Consistent patient care

The objective is to maintain the quality and continuity of your clinical pharmacy service. Whether you need temporary clinical pharmacist cover for a few days or a longer absence, the right provider can step in without disrupting your team.

Can remote clinical pharmacists provide annual leave cover?

Yes. Many GP practices now choose remote clinical pharmacist support to provide planned cover. With secure access to practice systems, experienced pharmacists can complete much of their work remotely. This allows services to continue with minimal disruption.

This approach provides greater flexibility than relying solely on traditional locum arrangements. For practices looking to maintain service continuity while controlling costs, remote temporary clinical pharmacist cover offers a highly practical solution.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Planning ahead isn’t just about covering annual leave. It’s about protecting continuity of care, supporting practice teams and ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality clinical pharmacy services without disruption.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

When should you arrange annual leave pharmacist cover?

Ideally, practices should arrange cover as soon as annual leave is approved. While many practices only begin looking a week or two before a pharmacist is due to be away, securing planned clinical cover earlier gives access to a wider pool of experienced clinicians and reduces the risk of disruption.

Early planning is one of the simplest ways to improve workforce continuity and strengthen practice resilience. Arranging pharmacist holiday cover for your GP practice well in advance means you are not competing for availability during busy holiday periods. It ensures medication review services continue uninterrupted, maintains medicines optimisation support, and reduces the operational impact of clinical pharmacist absence cover on your wider team.

FAQs

Need annual leave pharmacist cover?

Whether you need cover for a single week or a longer planned absence, our experienced clinical pharmacists can help maintain continuity of care, reduce GP workload and keep your practice running smoothly.

Speak to our team today.

Probiotics vs Prebiotics: Which Is Right for You?

22nd June 2026

• Probiotics vs prebiotics: Quick Answer
• What are probiotics?
• What are prebiotics?
• Probiotics vs prebiotics: key differences
• Probiotics Benefits
• Prebiotics Benefits
• Can you get enough probiotics and prebiotics from food?
• Should you take supplements?
• Which one should you choose?
• Are probiotics or prebiotics safe?

Understanding the difference between probiotics and prebiotics can help you make informed decisions about your gut health. Although both support a healthy gut microbiome (the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in your digestive system), probiotics are live microorganisms, while prebiotics are fibres that feed beneficial gut bacteria. This guide explains the differences, potential benefits, and when each may be appropriate.

Key Takeaways

• Probiotics add, prebiotics feed: Probiotics introduce live beneficial microbes; prebiotics act as fertiliser for existing gut bacteria.
• Food first: A varied, fibre-rich diet provides excellent prebiotic support without the need for supplements.
• Targeted use: Probiotics may help specific issues, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, but strong evidence for general health claims remains limited.

Probiotics vs prebiotics: Quick Answer

Probiotics are live bacteria or yeasts supporting gut balance. Prebiotics are fibres nourishing the beneficial bacteria naturally present in your digestive tract. The simplest distinction is they function differently but complement each other.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms, often called “friendly” bacteria. They occur naturally in fermented foods like live yoghurt, kefir, and kimchi, and in dietary supplements. Common groups include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Their effects are highly strain-specific and dose-specific.

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres travelling to the large bowel. Here, gut bacteria ferment them, releasing beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Abundant in everyday foods like garlic, onions, oats, and bananas, they feed beneficial gut bacteria and support bowel regularity.

Probiotics vs prebiotics: key differences

Feature	Probiotics	Prebiotics
What are they?	Live microorganisms	Food for beneficial gut bacteria
Main role	Add or support beneficial microbes	Feed existing beneficial microbes
Found in	Yoghurt, kefir, fermented foods, supplements	Fibre-rich plant foods
Best for	Specific digestive needs	Everyday gut support
Supplement needed?	Sometimes, for specific conditions	Usually food-first

Probiotics Benefits

Evidence surrounding probiotics benefits is nuanced. According to the NHS, probiotics may restore the natural balance of gut bacteria after disruption. They show promise in managing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, but evidence depends heavily on the specific strain and dose.

Some research suggests that certain probiotic strains may help maintain gut health during or after a course of antibiotics and may benefit some digestive conditions. However, results vary depending on the strain, dose, and individual, so one probiotic cannot be expected to work for every situation.

Prebiotics Benefits

Prebiotics provide several benefits for gut health by feeding healthy gut bacteria. They support bowel regularity and aid short-chain fatty acid production, crucial for a healthy gut barrier. Most prebiotic foods are naturally high in dietary fibre, meaning increasing your intake can support both digestive health and beneficial gut bacteria.

Key point: Most people can support their gut microbiome through a varied diet rich in plant foods, without needing probiotic supplements.

Can you get enough probiotics and prebiotics from food?

Yes. For most people, a food-first approach is best to support natural gut health.

Probiotic foods

• Live yoghurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso

Prebiotic foods

• Garlic
• Onions
• Leeks
• Oats
• Beans
• Lentils
• Bananas
• Chicory root

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Understanding the difference between probiotics and prebiotics empowers people to make more informed decisions about their gut health. While supplements may have a role in certain situations, a balanced, fibre-rich diet and evidence-based clinical advice remain the foundation of good digestive health.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

Should you take supplements?

Most healthy adults can obtain prebiotics through a varied, fibre-rich diet. Probiotic supplements may be appropriate in certain situations, such as after antibiotics or when recommended by a healthcare professional, but they are not routinely needed for everyone.

Which one should you choose?

Deciding between probiotics vs prebiotics depends on your situation. For general gut health, starting with prebiotic-rich foods is best. If recovering from antibiotics or managing IBS-type symptoms, discussing probiotics benefits with a healthcare professional like a GP, Nurse or Clinical Pharmacist is advisable. They can guide you on appropriate strains and ensure safe use.

Are probiotics or prebiotics safe?

For healthy adults, increasing prebiotic and probiotic foods is safe. However, probiotic supplements are not suitable for everyone. People who are immunocompromised, severely ill, or elderly should seek clinical advice first. If you have concerns about medication and gut health, structured medication reviews can optimise your care.

FAQs

Conclusion

Understanding probiotics vs prebiotics can help you make informed choices about supporting your gut health. For most people, eating a varied, fibre-rich diet is the best place to start, while probiotic supplements may be appropriate in specific circumstances. If you have ongoing digestive symptoms or questions about your medicines, speak to a healthcare professional for personalised advice.

Need expert medicines support?

Understanding probiotics vs prebiotics is one part of supporting good gut health. Digestive health is also an area where medicines optimisation can improve patient outcomes. Core Prescribing Solutions provides experienced Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to support GP practices and Primary Care Networks with evidence-based prescribing, Structured Medication Reviews, and safer medicines use.

Get in touch →

What Happens When Your Clinical Pharmacist Is Off Sick? A Guide to PCN Pharmacist Cover

19th June 2026

• What services are at risk when a clinical pharmacist is off sick?
• What are the options for PCN pharmacist cover for GP practices?
• What are the risks of not having PCN pharmacist cover in place?
• How should PCNs plan for clinical pharmacist workforce gaps?

When a clinical pharmacist calls in sick, the impact is felt immediately. Medication reviews may be postponed, prescribing queries build up, and GPs absorb additional workload at short notice. Having a clear approach to PCN pharmacist cover for GP practices helps maintain patient care, protect medicines safety, and minimise disruption.

Over 5,000 clinical pharmacists now work in PCNs via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). The absence of even one creates significant pressure. This guide outlines the risks and explores pharmacist cover for GP practices. It also explains how to build a resilient approach to clinical pharmacist absence planning.

Key Takeaways

• Unexpected absence disrupts structured medication reviews and repeat prescribing oversight.
• PCN pharmacist cover for GP practices options include internal redeployment, cross-PCN sharing, and managed services.
• Proactive clinical pharmacist absence planning protects patient safety and reduces service disruption.

What services are at risk when a clinical pharmacist is off sick?

A clinical pharmacist manages a significant portion of the medicines workload. Without pharmacist sickness cover for GP practices, key services are immediately affected:

Service	Risk When Absent
Structured medication reviews	Clinics are cancelled or deferred.
Repeat prescribing oversight	Queries escalate to GPs, increasing workload.
Long-term condition management	Medication titration and monitoring gaps emerge.
Medicines optimisation	Safety alerts and high-risk drug monitoring may be missed.

The impact compounds quickly. GPs absorb the overflow and appointment capacity shrinks. This erodes clinical pharmacy service continuity. Wider clinical pharmacist workforce gaps add further pressure.

What are the options for PCN pharmacist cover for GP practices?

Pharmacist sickness cover for GP practices and PCNs usually falls into three categories:

1. Internal redeployment: A Pharmacy Technician or second clinical pharmacist takes on priority tasks. This requires sufficient staffing depth.
2. Cross-PCN resource sharing: Neighbouring PCNs share clinical pharmacy resource during short absences. This requires clear governance.
3. Managed service provider: For longer periods of sickness, maternity leave, or workforce gaps, practices may choose to work with a managed provider such as temporary clinical pharmacist support. This helps maintain pharmacy workforce continuity while a longer-term solution is put in place.

The BMA guidance on employing clinical pharmacists in GP practices recognises private providers as a route for flexible resource. PCNs increasingly use this option for longer-term clinical pharmacist support.

What are the risks of not having PCN pharmacist cover in place?

Without a plan for clinical pharmacist absence, the consequences can extend well beyond a disrupted day. Key risks include:

• Patient safety: Delayed structured medication reviews and missed high-risk drug monitoring can have direct clinical consequences.
• Increased GP workload: Prescribing queries and medicines-related tasks revert to GPs, reducing appointment capacity.
• Service disruption: Long-term condition clinics and medicines optimisation programmes lose continuity.
• Compliance risk: Practices may struggle to meet contractual obligations for medication reviews and prescribing oversight.

These risks are compounded when clinical pharmacist workforce gaps are not anticipated. Proactive PCN pharmacist sickness cover planning addresses them before they arise.

How should PCNs plan for clinical pharmacist workforce gaps?

Many practices seek pharmacist sickness cover only after an absence occurs. This leaves little time to arrange alternative support. A proactive approach to clinical pharmacist absence planning avoids this disruption.

Effective planning for PCN pharmacist cover should include:

• A written absence protocol: Define which tasks are deferred and which escalate to a GP.
• A pre-agreed cover arrangement: Put internal, cross-PCN, or managed provider agreements in place early.
• A Pharmacy Technician escalation pathway: Pharmacy Technicians can manage repeat prescribing queries within their scope of competence. This frees GP time during a clinical pharmacist absence.
• Regular workforce reviews: The role of clinical pharmacists in PCNs has expanded. Absence planning must reflect this full scope.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Effective pharmacist sickness cover is not simply about replacing capacity. It is about maintaining safe prescribing processes, medication reviews, and continuity of patient care. PCNs and practices that plan ahead are far better placed to protect their patients and their teams.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

FAQs

Is your PCN prepared for a prolonged clinical pharmacist absence?

PCN pharmacist cover should be planned, not reactive. While short-term absences can often be managed internally, longer periods of sickness, maternity leave, or workforce gaps can place significant pressure on practices and PCNs.

Core Prescribing Solutions supports GP practices and PCNs with experienced Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, helping maintain clinical pharmacy service continuity during longer-term sickness absence, maternity leave and workforce gaps. If you’re planning ahead for a period of extended absence, we can work with you to find the right solution for your practice and your patients.

Get in touch →

EMIS Integrated Pharmacist Support for GP Practices

17th June 2026

• What is EMIS integrated pharmacist support?
• Why EMIS integration matters
• Supporting medicines optimisation directly within EMIS
• How does EMIS-integrated support reduce GP workload?
• Why do GP practices choose remote clinical pharmacist support via EMIS?

EMIS integrated pharmacist support enables clinical pharmacists to work directly within your practice’s EMIS Web system, giving them access to the same patient records, prescribing workflows, and clinical tasks as the wider practice team. Rather than relying on separate platforms or disconnected processes, all work is completed within a single clinical record.

Key Takeaways

• Real-time access: Clinical pharmacists have immediate access to patient records within EMIS Web, preventing duplicate data entry.
• Comprehensive clinical care: An EMIS clinical pharmacist can complete structured medication reviews, repeat prescribing, and high-risk medicine monitoring within your existing system.
• Scalable support: Core Prescribing Solutions provides fully managed, EMIS-integrated clinical pharmacist and pharmacy technician support for GP practices and PCNs.

At a glance

• Clinical pharmacists work directly within EMIS Web.
• No duplicate systems or disconnected workflows.
• Supports medicines optimisation and repeat prescribing.
• Helps reduce GP and practice workload.
• Suitable for GP practices and Primary Care Networks.

What is EMIS integrated pharmacist support?

EMIS integrated pharmacist support embeds a clinical pharmacist directly within a GP practice’s clinical system, acting as an extension of the internal primary care team. The pharmacist handles prescribing queries and actions hospital discharge summaries securely, with all clinical notes immediately visible to GPs.

EMIS Web is one of the UK’s most widely used GP clinical systems, supporting patient records, prescribing, consultations, and workflow management.

Why EMIS integration matters

Working directly inside EMIS – rather than alongside it – improves the quality and speed of support:

• No duplicate systems: All tasks are completed within the practice’s existing workflow.
• One patient record: The clinical pharmacist works from the same live record as the GPs and their teams.
• Improved audit trails: Every intervention is documented in real-time, supporting governance and CQC readiness.
• Faster workflow: Prescription queries and monitoring tasks are resolved without handoff delays.
• Reduced admin: GPs spend less time redirecting tasks a clinical pharmacist can resolve directly.
• Greater patient safety: Immediate access to full medication history reduces prescribing errors.

Supporting medicines optimisation directly within EMIS

Working within EMIS allows clinical pharmacy teams to deliver comprehensive medicines optimisation. Key responsibilities include:

• Medication reconciliation in EMIS: Accurately updating patient records following hospital discharge.
• Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) using EMIS: Conducting in-depth structured medication reviews for patients with complex polypharmacy.
• High-risk medication monitoring: Utilising EMIS searches to ensure patients receive timely blood tests and high-risk medication monitoring.
• Repeat prescribing support within EMIS: Managing repeat prescription requests and identifying over-ordering.

How does EMIS-integrated support reduce GP workload?

Delegating tasks to an EMIS pharmacist support service reduces daily administrative burden. Clinical pharmacists intercept prescription queries, manage discharge letters, and conduct chronic disease reviews in the workflow – preventing routine issues from escalating into GP appointments. Practices can also benefit from proactive patient identification through our EMIS Searches and Population Health Management service.

Why do GP practices choose remote clinical pharmacist support via EMIS?

Many practices struggle to recruit in-house clinical staff. Remote clinical pharmacist support via EMIS offers a flexible, scalable alternative without the overheads of physical desk space. The remote pharmacist works within the same EMIS environment and follows the same practice protocols, becoming a seamless extension of the existing clinical team.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Clinical pharmacists deliver the greatest value when they are fully integrated into a practice’s clinical systems and workflows. Working directly within EMIS enables safer prescribing, better continuity of care, and more efficient medicines optimisation.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

FAQs

Looking for EMIS-integrated clinical pharmacist support?

Our clinical pharmacist support service integrates seamlessly with your EMIS system. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your practice or PCN.

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Core Prescribing Solutions Achieves CPD Accreditation for Mental Health Training

15th June 2026

• CPD Certification – Quick Facts
• Supporting safer mental health medication reviews
• Building a growing accredited training portfolio
• Developed to support real-world primary care practice
• Recognising the team behind the programme

Core Prescribing Solutions has achieved CPD certification for its Mental Health Medication Review Training Course, making it the second course within its training portfolio to receive accreditation from The CPD Certification Service.

The certification follows the recent accreditation of the Cardiovascular Disease Medication Review Training Course and reflects the organisation’s continued investment in developing high-quality clinical education for pharmacy professionals working across primary care.

CPD Certification – Quick Facts

Item	Details
Course	Mental Health Medication Review Training Course
Provider	Core Prescribing Solutions (Accredited Provider)
Certification Body	The CPD Certification Service
Clinical Focus	Mental Health Medication Reviews covering Depression, Anxiety, Severe Mental Illness, Shared Care Prescribing, prescribing safety and medicines optimisation
Purpose	Professional development for primary care pharmacy teams

Supporting safer mental health medication reviews

Mental health conditions are among the most common health concerns managed within primary care. As demand for mental health services continues to grow, ensuring clinicians have the knowledge and confidence to support patients receiving mental health medicines is increasingly important.

Medication reviews provide an opportunity to assess treatment effectiveness, identify potential safety concerns, review adherence, and ensure medicines remain aligned with current clinical guidance. They also support shared decision-making and help identify opportunities for medicines optimisation where appropriate.

Mental health should not be viewed separately from physical health. Patients living with long-term conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease often experience challenges with their mental wellbeing, while a new diagnosis can have a significant emotional impact. Developing greater awareness of mental health within primary care supports more holistic patient reviews, helps reduce stigma, and enables clinicians to identify opportunities for additional support when needed.

The Mental Health Medication Review Training Course has been developed to strengthen understanding of these areas and support clinicians working across Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices.

Building a growing accredited training portfolio

The certification represents another milestone for Core Prescribing Solutions’ Training and Development Team, following the successful accreditation of its Cardiovascular Disease Medication Review Training Course earlier this year.

By achieving accreditation across multiple clinical topics, Core Prescribing Solutions continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting the ongoing development of pharmacy professionals working in primary care.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

“Mental health medication reviews provide an important opportunity to improve patient care, support treatment effectiveness, and identify potential safety concerns. By investing in structured training, we can help clinicians build the confidence and expertise needed to deliver meaningful interventions that make a real difference to patients.”

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

Developed to support real-world primary care practice

The Mental Health Medication Review Training Course has been developed to reflect the realities of modern primary care and the growing role pharmacy professionals play in supporting patients with mental health conditions.

The programme covers a broad range of topics designed to strengthen clinical knowledge, support safe prescribing, and improve confidence when undertaking mental health medication reviews.

Areas covered include:

• Understanding depression and the use of PHQ-9 assessment tools
• Understanding anxiety and the use of GAD-7 assessment tools
• Severe Mental Illness (SMI) reviews and monitoring requirements
• Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) requirements relevant to mental health reviews
• Shared Care Agreements and prescribing responsibilities
• Safe switching, weaning, restarting, and optimisation of medicines
• Reviewing and supporting patients during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• MHRA safety alerts relating to commonly prescribed mental health medicines
• Medicines optimisation opportunities and prescribing safety considerations
• Case-based learning and practical medication review scenarios

The content combines evidence-based learning with practical case studies, helping clinicians apply their knowledge in day-to-day primary care settings.

Recognising the team behind the programme

Achieving CPD certification reflects the significant work undertaken by the Core Prescribing Solutions Training and Development Team.

Developing accredited clinical education requires robust educational design, evidence-based content, and a strong understanding of the challenges facing healthcare professionals working within primary care. The certification provides independent recognition that the course meets recognised standards for Continuing Professional Development.

“We are delighted to achieve accreditation for a second course. This milestone reflects the dedication of our training team and our commitment to supporting the ongoing development of pharmacy professionals. We look forward to continuing to expand our accredited training portfolio across additional clinical areas in the future.”

Stacey Middlemass, Co-Head of Training and Development – Core Prescribing Solutions

Looking Ahead

The Mental Health Medication Review Training Course represents the latest step in Core Prescribing Solutions’ commitment to supporting the development of pharmacy professionals working across primary care.

As healthcare services continue to evolve, the need for accessible, high-quality clinical education remains essential. Through ongoing investment in training and professional development, Core Prescribing Solutions aims to help equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centred care.

The organisation plans to continue expanding its accredited training portfolio, supporting pharmacy professionals across a wider range of clinical specialisms and service areas.

What the Expansion of Pharmacist Independent Prescribing Means for the Future Primary Care Workforce

9th June 2026

• What is a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber?
• Why is the Government expanding prescribing rights for pharmacists?
• What new conditions will pharmacist prescribers be able to treat?
• How Pharmacist Prescribing Is Shaping the Future Primary Care Workforce

GP practices continue to face growing demand, workforce pressures, and increasing expectations around patient access. Against this backdrop, the Government’s decision to expand the role of the Pharmacist Independent Prescriber represents more than a policy change. It signals a significant shift in how primary care services may be delivered in the future.

Key Takeaways

• From autumn 2026, Pharmacist Independent Prescribers will deliver five new prescribing pathways.
• Pharmacists graduating from the MPharm programme from 2026 will qualify with prescribing rights.
• Demand for an experienced independent prescribing pharmacist will increase significantly.
• Strategic workforce planning is essential to successfully reduce GP workload.

What is a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber?

A Pharmacist Independent Prescriber is a qualified clinical pharmacist who has completed additional prescribing training. They can assess patients, diagnose conditions, and prescribe medicines within their area of competence without requiring authorisation from a doctor.

Why is the Government expanding prescribing rights for pharmacists?

The NHS is shifting clinical activity into the wider primary care workforce. The Government views stronger collaboration between community pharmacy and general practice as vital. By expanding these prescribing rights, the NHS aims to deliver a more accessible, community-based health service.

This approach aligns with the NHS 10-Year Plan. Allowing clinical pharmacists to use their full clinical skills is a direct response to rising GP workload and the need for improved patient access.

What new conditions will pharmacist prescribers be able to treat?

Building on the success of Pharmacy First, an Independent Prescribing Pharmacist will soon assess patients and prescribe medicines directly for specific conditions. From autumn 2026, proposed pathways include:

Condition Category	Examples
Eye Infections	Bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis
Fungal Infections	Oral thrush
Skin Conditions	Minor skin infections
Respiratory	Uncomplicated respiratory tract infections

These pathways shift acute care away from GPs and towards the pharmacy workforce.

How Pharmacist Prescribing Is Shaping the Future Primary Care Workforce

The expansion of pharmacist prescribing reflects a wider NHS shift towards multidisciplinary teams and a more flexible primary care workforce. However, this creates a significant workforce challenge. As community pharmacies require more prescribers, competition for experienced staff will intensify.

Practices must focus on workforce planning to build resilient multidisciplinary teams. The most effective Clinical Pharmacist services integrate these professionals into practice workflows alongside GPs. With ARRS investment, clinical pharmacists lead Structured Medication Reviews and resolve prescribing safety issues. This reduces the clinical burden on doctors.

For Primary Care Networks, this creates an opportunity to review how pharmacy professionals are deployed across member practices and ensure workforce models are aligned with future service demands.

Managing the hidden cost of GP workload requires structured delegation. As the role of Clinical Pharmacists in PCNs evolves, they become central to clinical decision-making, helping to address workforce shortages and growing demand.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Expanding prescribing rights for pharmacists is an important step forward for primary care. However, policy change alone won’t reduce pressure on GP services. Success will depend on ensuring practices and PCNs have access to the skilled pharmacy workforce needed to deliver these services effectively.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

FAQs

Looking to increase clinical capacity without recruiting more GPs?

Core Prescribing Solutions provides managed teams of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians. We integrate into practices and PCNs to support medicines optimisation, structured medication reviews, and long-term condition management.

Get in touch →

Pharmacy Staffing Solutions for GP Practices and PCNs

5th June 2026

GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) face immense pressure from rising patient demand, workforce shortages, and increasing expectations around patient care and clinical governance. Pharmacy staffing solutions provide a practical way to strengthen clinical teams. Our clinical pharmacy staffing solutions give GP practices and PCNs access to experienced Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians without the delays of traditional recruitment.

What are pharmacy staffing solutions? Pharmacy staffing solutions are managed workforce services that help GP practices and PCNs access experienced Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to support workforce planning, prescribing safety, and patient care.

Key Takeaways

• Targeted workforce support: A managed clinical pharmacy workforce helps GP practices and PCNs address primary care workforce challenges.
• Multidisciplinary impact: Clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians support medicines optimisation, prescribing safety, and patient outcomes.
• Managed flexibility: Managed pharmacy workforce solutions reduce recruitment pressures and provide long-term value.
• Reduced workload: Clinical pharmacy teams can help reduce GP workload and improve access to care.

What Are Pharmacy Staffing Solutions?

Pharmacy staffing solutions are workforce models that give healthcare organisations access to qualified pharmacy professionals when they need them. Practices and PCNs benefit from flexible workforce support that aligns with their clinical and operational priorities – without the delays and costs of traditional hiring.

These models include clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in multidisciplinary teams. They support patient care, medicines optimisation, long-term condition management, and prescribing safety, providing a responsive way to build capacity and maintain high standards.

Why Do GP Practices and PCNs Need Clinical Pharmacy Workforce Support?

Primary care faces intense workforce pressures. Demand for appointments is rising. Practices must also manage long-term conditions, medication reviews, and complex patient needs.

A managed clinical pharmacy team introduces skilled professionals to work alongside GPs. The NHS England pharmacy workforce guidance supports integrating these roles to build capacity.

This support helps organisations:

• Reduce pressure on GP appointments
• Improve medicines optimisation and patient outcomes
• Strengthen prescribing safety and clinical governance
• Increase capacity for medication reviews
• Improve patient access to clinical services

Integrating clinical pharmacy professionals creates efficient workflows and improves the patient experience.

How Do Clinical Pharmacy Teams Support Patient Care?

Clinical pharmacy support extends beyond day-to-day medicines management. These professionals help practices deliver safe, patient-centred care in line with NICE guidelines on medicines optimisation.

Clinical pharmacists can support:

• Structured Medication Reviews
• Medicines Optimisation initiatives
• Long-term condition management
• Prescribing audits and governance

Pharmacy technicians can contribute by:

• Supporting medicines reconciliation
• Managing prescribing workflows
• Improving operational efficiency
• Assisting with medication monitoring processes

Together, they create a sustainable primary care workforce.

Pharmacy Staffing Solutions vs Traditional Recruitment

Recruiting experienced clinical pharmacy professionals can be time-consuming and unpredictable. Practices struggle to attract experienced clinical professionals while managing daily service delivery. A managed pharmacy workforce solution offers a high-intent alternative to traditional hiring.

Key differences include:

• Reduced recruitment burden: Avoid the costs and delays of advertising, interviewing, and onboarding.
• Faster deployment: Access experienced Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians ready to integrate immediately.
• Ongoing support: Benefit from continuous professional development and supervision.
• Clinical governance: Rely on an established framework for prescribing safety and quality assurance.
• Workforce flexibility: Scale your clinical pharmacy support to match patient demand.

This approach lets practices focus on delivering high-quality patient care. It ensures they have the workforce to meet demand without the administrative overhead.

Why Choose Core Prescribing Solutions?

When selecting a partner for your primary care workforce, you need more than just temporary cover. Core Prescribing Solutions delivers a comprehensive, managed service model designed specifically for the NHS.

Our pharmacy professionals support GP practices and PCNs across England, helping reduce GP workload, improve prescribing safety, and improve patient outcomes.

• National clinical workforce: We provide access to highly trained professionals across the UK.
• Experienced teams: Our Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians specialise in primary care.
• Clinical governance framework: We ensure the highest standards of patient safety and prescribing quality.
• NHS expertise: We understand the unique pressures facing GP practices, PCNs, and wider NHS organisations.
• Focus on long-term value: We help you build smarter ways of working for sustainable patient care.

Whether you need support with structured medication reviews, long-term condition management, or wider workforce planning, our managed pharmacy workforce solutions can be tailored to the needs of your GP practice or PCN. We work as an extension of your team, helping you build capacity while maintaining high standards of patient safety.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

The challenges facing primary care require innovative workforce solutions that deliver both clinical value and operational efficiency. Pharmacy professionals play a vital role in supporting practices and PCNs, helping organisations improve patient care while creating smarter ways to work.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

FAQs

Looking for a pharmacy staffing solution for your GP practice or PCN?

If your PCN wants to reduce GP workload through managed clinical pharmacy staffing solutions, we can help. Our Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians integrate with your team to deliver proactive care.

Get in touch →