A Pharmacist’s Perspective on Transitioning to Primary Care

• 13th July 2025

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• Why Pharmacists Are Making the Move
• Differences Between Community and Primary Care Pharmacy
• Essential Skills for Success in Primary Care
• Overcoming Challenges When Moving to Primary Care

Transitioning from community to primary care is becoming a popular route for pharmacists seeking broader clinical roles, job satisfaction, and long-term career growth. As more opportunities open for the community pharmacist to primary care pharmacist, understanding the transition process is essential for both individuals and employers.

Key Takeaways:

• More pharmacists are making the move from community to primary care for clinical development and better work-life balance.
• The transition to a community pharmacist to primary care pharmacist role requires new skills, team integration, and adapting to NHS priorities.
• Planning your pharmacist career transition is crucial for a successful move training, support, and the right placement make a real difference.

Why Pharmacists Are Making the Move

Several factors are driving the current pharmacist career transition from community to primary care. The evolving primary care pharmacist role offers more clinical responsibility, greater involvement in patient care, and new career pathways supported by the NHS and ARRS funding.

Key reasons for this shift:

• Expanded clinical opportunities: Pharmacists can manage long-term conditions, run clinics, and support prescribing in multidisciplinary teams.
• NHS policy and ARRS: The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funds thousands of pharmacist posts in primary care, opening doors across the UK.
• Professional growth: The move allows for real pharmacy career development, with training, independent prescribing, and progression into leadership or specialist roles.
• Improved work-life balance: Regular hours, fewer weekends, and structured environments attract many looking for a sustainable career.
• Active contribution to NHS priorities: Primary care roles put pharmacists at the centre of local healthcare transformation and patient outcomes.

For many, the move to primary care is about expanding clinical horizons while enjoying greater stability and support.

Differences Between Community and Primary Care Pharmacy

Pharmacists considering the move from community to primary care will encounter some clear differences in practice environment, clinical scope, and daily responsibilities. Here’s how the roles compare:

Aspect	Community Pharmacist to Primary Care Pharmacist	Primary Care Pharmacist Role / NHS Primary Care Pharmacy
Work Environment	High street or local pharmacy, retail setting	GP practice, PCN, or integrated neighbourhood health service
Clinical Scope	Medicines supply, minor ailments, public health advice	Medicines optimisation, structured reviews, long-term condition management, prescribing support
Prescribing	Not a prescriber (except in rare cases); supplies against prescriptions	Increasingly independent prescriber, supports GP teams, runs clinics
Patient Contact	Large volume, short interactions, walk-in consultations	Regular reviews, deeper relationships, appointments, MDT collaboration
Workload	High dispensing volume, retail targets, commercial focus	Clinical workload, QOF, SMRs, NHS priorities, lower retail pressure

Essential Skills for Success in Primary Care

To succeed in primary care, pharmacists must build on existing experience and develop new competencies. Many community pharmacist skills in primary care like medicines knowledge and patient advice transfer well, but others require focused development.

Key transferable skills:

• Medicines counselling and safety expertise
• Strong communication and rapport with patients
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure

Skills to develop or enhance:

• Clinical assessment and independent prescribing
• Effective use of GP clinical IT systems and patient records
• Collaborative working with MDTs and contribution to practice meetings
• Understanding of QOF, audits, and NHS frameworks
• Service improvement and change management

Support with pharmacist training and support is vital, particularly during induction and the early months. Ongoing CPD ensures the pharmacist workforce stays clinically up to date and confident in delivering high-quality primary care.

Overcoming Challenges When Moving to Primary Care

Making the shift from community pharmacy to primary care is rewarding, but not without hurdles. Common challenges moving to primary care pharmacy include navigating new clinical systems, learning to work within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), and adapting to the expectations of ARRS pharmacist roles.

Typical transition challenges:

• Onboarding into GP or PCN settings, with new workflows and processes
• Need for structured supervision, mentoring, and support in early months
• Using GP digital tools, electronic health records, and remote consultation platforms
• Understanding the culture and pace of primary care versus retail pharmacy
• Gaining confidence with clinical audits, QOF, and NHS reporting

With the right preparation and access to ongoing support, pharmacists can quickly adapt and thrive in GP pharmacist jobs, delivering real value to both patients and practice teams.

“Moving from community to primary care can be daunting, but pharmacists who receive the right mentorship, training, and support quickly gain the confidence and skills to excel in their new roles. Structured onboarding and ongoing learning are key to a successful transition.”

Adeem Azhar: Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Core Prescribing Solutions

Core Prescribing Solutions Support for Pharmacists Making the Transition

Core Prescribing Solutions provides dedicated support to pharmacists moving from community to primary care, ensuring a confident and successful start. Our focus is on tailored pharmacist training and support, practical mentorship, and smooth team integration.

How we help:

• Bespoke training and induction for new-to-primary care pharmacists
• Mentorship from experienced clinical pharmacists working in GP practices and PCNs
• Guidance on pharmacy career development and ARRS role progression
• Placement into suitable ARRS pharmacist roles within our partner PCNs and practices
• Ongoing support, supervision, and access to learning resources

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