Remote clinical pharmacist Working Done Right in Primary Care 

• 26th December 2025

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Remote working in clinical pharmacy means a remote clinical pharmacist delivering structured patient care without being physically based in a GP practice, while remaining fully integrated into practice systems, governance, and workflows. This form of clinical pharmacist remote working allows practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to access pharmacist capacity without relying on physical presence.

These roles operate to a defined clinical scope, use secure access to GP systems, and work under clear clinical supervision to deliver outcomes such as Structured Medication Reviews and medicines optimisation. When implemented correctly, this model increases pharmacy capacity and reduces GP workload without increasing clinical risk.

Key takeaways

• Remote clinical pharmacy is safe and effective when delivered through clear scope, visible managed supervision, and full system integration
• Well-designed remote models reduce GP workload and improve consistency without adding practice management burden
• Most failures in remote delivery are caused by poor governance, no clinical oversight or management and unclear expectations, not by remote working itself

What does remote working mean in clinical pharmacy?

Remote working refers to clinical pharmacists delivering structured, accountable care without being physically based in the practice or PCN, while remaining embedded in local systems and workflows. This aligns with NHS England guidance on clinical pharmacists in general practice, which makes clear that responsibility for medicines optimisation and prescribing safety does not change based on location.

In practice, remote clinical pharmacist roles work best when delivered through a managed clinical pharmacist support service that embeds pharmacists into practice systems rather than leaving them to operate independently. For digitally enabled clinical pharmacists, this approach ensures accountability and consistent clinical ownership.

A remote clinical pharmacist typically:

• Accesses GP clinical systems securely
• Works to a defined scope of practice and clinical competence
• Delivers a range of workstreams such Structured Medication Reviews, medicines optimisation, and high-risk medication monitoring
• Operates under clear clinical supervision and governance

Why remote clinical pharmacy has become essential

Recruitment challenges across many PCNs and practices mean long timelines, unfilled roles, and reliance on short-term cover remain common. Clinical pharmacist remote working allows access to a wider workforce without geographic restriction, helping PCNs optimise ARRS-funded roles through structured ARRS workforce support rather than leaving posts vacant.

Remote delivery also removes estate and space as a limiting factor. Practices without spare consulting rooms can still benefit from meaningful clinical pharmacy input, while PCNs increasingly require consistent pharmacy support across multiple sites.

Where remote working often goes wrong

Remote clinical pharmacy fails when it is treated as a workaround rather than a structured service.

Common issues include:

• Unclear expectations around activity and outcomes
• Limited access to full clinical systems
• Weak communication with practice teams
• Lack of visible supervision or escalation routes
• Performance measured by hours worked rather than impact delivered

These issues quickly erode confidence, even when individual clinicians are capable.

What goes wrong when remote clinical pharmacy is poorly designed

Problems rarely stem from remote working itself. They arise when delivery lacks structure, governance, and clarity.

Remote pharmacists may be used to fill gaps informally rather than working to defined pathways. Activity is delivered, but GP workload does not reduce because work is not aligned to medicines-related demand or priority areas such as Structured Medication Reviews.

In other cases, clinical pharmacists are underutilised due to unclear scope or restricted system access. Practices may receive support in theory, but little visible clinical impact. Poorly designed models can also shift management burden onto practices, with GPs or managers left supervising or chasing activity.

What “remote working done right” looks like

Remote working succeeds when delivered as a governed clinical service rather than a staffing workaround.

Clear clinical scope focuses clinical pharmacists on high-value work such as medicines optimisation and long-term condition reviews. Full system integration allows remote clinicians to operate as part of the practice team, including alignment with medicines optimisation services at practice and PCN level.

Strong supervision and governance are essential. Effective remote pharmacist supervision includes named clinical leads, regular case review, prescribing oversight, and escalation routes aligned with NICE guidance on medicines optimisation.

Remote clinical pharmacy only delivers value when it is treated as a governed clinical service, not a staffing workaround. Clear scope, visible supervision, and outcome-focused delivery are what allow remote models to reduce GP and management workload while maintaining consistent clinical standards across practices.

Adeem Azhar, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions

Managing Clinical pharmacists who work from home

The work from home pharmacist model, delivered through structured technology enabled pharmacy services, reflects wider changes in how clinical services are delivered. Success depends on structured induction, regular clinical touchpoints, visibility of work delivered, and feedback loops with practices.

Practices should not be expected to line-manage remote pharmacists day to day. Removing that burden allows teams to focus on patient care.

The role of technology enabled pharmacy services

Technology underpins safe remote delivery. Digitally enabled clinical pharmacists rely on secure system access, standardised workflows, shared documentation, and clear communication tools. These are delivered through structured technology enabled pharmacy services that support safe remote prescribing and medicines management at scale.

This approach allows technology enabled pharmacy services to scale without compromising clinical oversight.

Is remote clinical pharmacy safe?

Yes. When delivered through structured scope, supervision, and visibility, remote pharmacy delivery achieves the same clinical standards as onsite roles while improving consistency across practices.

FAQs