UK pharmacy reforms aimed at easing prescription delays and expanding pharmacists’ clinical roles

Pharmacy leaders across the UK are calling for legislative changes to allow pharmacists to supply safe alternative medicines and expand their clinical responsibilities, addressing longstanding delays and improving patient safety amid supply shortages.

Pharmacy leaders across the UK are urging urgent legislative changes to address significant delays patients face when prescriptions cannot be immediately fulfilled due to stock shortages. Under current rules, pharmacists are not permitted to make substitutions if a prescribed medicine is unavailable, even when safe alternatives exist. This often forces patients to travel between multiple pharmacies or return to their GP to obtain a revised prescription, causing avoidable delays in receiving vital medication.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) highlights that these restrictions stem from legislation dating back to 1968, which prohibits pharmacists from altering prescriptions, such as substituting capsules for tablets or providing different dosages. Such constraints have led to patients waiting weeks for essential medicines, a risk to patient safety particularly for those with serious health conditions. According to an NPA poll of 400 pharmacists, 97% reported patients experiencing at least a day’s delay while pharmacists requested new prescriptions, and 95% observed instances where patients went without medicine altogether despite pharmacies holding suitable alternatives. One pharmacist shared that patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia waited over a week, while another recounted how an eight-year-old with a urinary infection was forced to visit A&E due to the unavailability of a specific antibiotic formulation, despite an alternative being stocked.

Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, stressed in a statement the need for urgent reform, remarking that pharmacists, as highly trained medicines experts, are already advising GPs on clinically suitable alternatives. He called the current situation “frustrating” and “dangerous,” emphasising that “it is madness to send someone back to their GP to get a prescription changed” when a safe alternative is available. Picard pointed out the outdated nature of the legislation amid modern medical supply challenges and the expanding clinical role of pharmacists.

The UK government has acknowledged the issue and in August 2023 pledged to consult on measures to grant community pharmacists more flexibility to supply alternative strengths or quantities of medicines without waiting for new prescriptions. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson confirmed their awareness of the distress caused by medicine supply disruptions and highlighted upcoming consultations aimed at empowering pharmacists to supply safe alternatives where appropriate.

This push for change complements longstanding calls within pharmacy professional bodies. Back in August 2020, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society advocated for granting pharmacists authority to modify prescriptions to help manage shortages effectively, reduce patient wait times, and ease administrative pressure on GP practices. Their proposals included allowing adjustments to medicine quantities, strengths, and formulations without needing prescriber approval.

Moreover, recent government reforms aim to modernise pharmacy practice beyond substitutions. The 10-Year Health Plan, announced in mid-2025, intends to expand the responsibilities of registered pharmacy technicians, thereby freeing pharmacists to focus more on patient care and clinical services. This initiative follows consultations held from late 2023 into early 2024 seeking to update the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and the Medicines Act 1968. Proposed changes include authorising pharmacy technicians to supervise and carry out dispensing activities, optimising staff roles to improve efficiency and patient experience.

While these reforms promise improvements, the pharmacy sector remains vigilant about upholding safety and ethical standards. Past incidents, such as a 2013 BBC investigation into illegal sales of addictive drugs by some London pharmacists, have underscored the importance of maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight even as professional autonomy increases.

In addition to prescription modification challenges, other systemic concerns persist around patient medication management. For example, repeated calls have emerged—from places like Guernsey and Telford—to improve repeat prescription systems and reduce uncollected medicines, which contribute to inefficiency and NHS financial losses.

In summary, there is a clear consensus among pharmacy leaders and health authorities that evolving legislation is necessary to meet modern healthcare demands. Enabling pharmacists to dispense safe alternative medicines without cumbersome red tape would alleviate patient delays, reduce GP workload, and reflect the enhanced clinical role pharmacists play today. The government’s forthcoming consultations will be watched closely, as timely action could markedly improve patient safety and access to vital medicines across the UK.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 16 September 2025. It references a government pledge from August 2025 to consult on enabling community pharmacists to supply alternative strengths or quantities against prescriptions. The NPA poll of 400 pharmacists is also recent, indicating current concerns. However, similar issues have been reported earlier in 2025, such as in March, highlighting ongoing challenges. The inclusion of updated data may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([npa.co.uk](https://www.npa.co.uk/news/2025/march/pharmacies-unable-to-dispense-vital-medication-at-least-once-a-day-due-to-supply-problems/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The direct quotes from Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, are consistent with his previous statements in 2024 regarding the need for legislative changes to address medicine shortages. This suggests the quotes may have been reused, raising concerns about originality. ([bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj31d055kz5o?utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable UK news outlet. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), cited in the report, is a legitimate organisation representing over 6,000 independent community pharmacies. Olivier Picard, the NPA chairman, is a known figure in the pharmacy sector. The Department of Health and Social Care’s acknowledgment of the issue adds credibility.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative aligns with ongoing concerns about medicine shortages and the limitations of current legislation. The NPA’s call for legislative changes is consistent with previous reports highlighting similar issues. The inclusion of recent data and quotes from credible sources supports the plausibility of the claims.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative is recent and originates from a reputable source, with consistent quotes from a known figure. However, the reuse of quotes from earlier in 2024 raises concerns about originality. The plausibility of the claims is supported by ongoing reports of medicine shortages and legislative challenges. Further verification of the originality of the quotes is recommended to fully assess the credibility of the narrative.