Clinical Pharmacists are an integral part of the general practice team, working alongside GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimise patient care. They provide expert medication management, improve prescribing safety, and enhance patient outcomes through direct consultations. Their role includes reviewing and reconciling medications after hospital discharge, reducing polypharmacy risks, and promoting adherence to prescribed treatments. They also assist with managing complex medication regimens and providing specialist advice on high-risk medicines.

The Role of Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice

NHS England Clinical Pharmacists.

By supporting patients with long-term conditions, addressing medication-related queries, and conducting structured medication reviews, Clinical Pharmacists help reduce GP workload while ensuring safe and effective treatment plans. They also contribute to public health initiatives, such as smoking cessation programmes and weight management support. Furthermore, they play a crucial role in antimicrobial stewardship, reducing antibiotic resistance through appropriate prescribing practices.

• Conducting structured medication reviews to ensure safe prescribing practices
• Managing long-term conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma
• Supporting medicines optimisation and deprescribing where necessary
• Providing structured education and guidance to patients about their medicines
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care
• Identifying and addressing medication-related hospital readmissions
• Delivering immunisation and vaccination programmes where applicable
• Contributing to antimicrobial stewardship and reducing medication-related harm

To work as a Clinical Pharmacist in general practice, you must be a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Many roles require or encourage an independent prescribing qualification and from 2026 onwards pharmacists will be prescribers at point of registration.

Being a pharmacist prescriber in general practice offers significant benefits, including improved patient care, increased efficiency, and reduced workload for GPs. Pharmacist prescribers can manage and optimise medication regimens, address minor ailments, and provide valuable expertise in medicines management. Additional postgraduate training, such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or advanced clinical practice courses, is highly beneficial to support national initiatives such as NHS England Pharmacy First.

Studying Pharmacy in the NHS.

Clinical Pharmacists in general practice often complete additional training through the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP). This pathway equip pharmacists with the necessary skills to work autonomously in patient-facing roles, with a focus on consultation skills, clinical assessment, and leadership development.

An overview of the training pathway for Clinical Pharmacists, the Challenges and Benefits of the role with references & further reading

Opportunities for Clinical Pharmacists include advanced clinical roles, specialist areas (e.g., cardiology, respiratory, mental health), and leadership positions such as Lead Clinical Pharmacist or PCN Pharmacy Lead. Many also move into academic research, policy development, or teaching roles within pharmacy education. Advanced Practice roles allow pharmacists to develop skills in complex case management, enhanced patient assessment, and independent clinical decision-making.

Career Planning for Healthcare Professionals

Pharmacy Careers in the NHS

Opportunities for Clinical Pharmacists include advanced clinical roles, specialist areas (e.g., cardiology, respiratory, mental health), and leadership positions such as Lead Clinical Pharmacist or PCN Pharmacy Lead. Many also move into academic research, policy development, or teaching roles within pharmacy education. Advanced Practice roles allow pharmacists to develop skills in complex case management, enhanced patient assessment, and independent clinical decision-making.

Please head to our Advanced Practice Page for further information: Advanced Practice – BNSSG Training Hub

Career Planning for Healthcare Professionals

Pharmacy Careers in the NHS

The MPharm (Master of Pharmacy) course is a four-year undergraduate degree in the UK that is the first step towards becoming a registered pharmacist. It is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and combines scientific knowledge with clinical and practice-based learning. After completing the MPharm, students typically undertake a foundation year of training and pass further GPhC exams to become fully qualified. For more information please follow this link: A career in pharmacy

Skills needed by Pharmacists include:

• Strong communication and consultation skills.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Attention to detail and good clinical judgement.
• Confidence in problem-solving and decision-making.
• Knowledge of NHS systems and patient confidentiality.

You can search for GPhC-accredited courses using our course finder.

Applications for courses are made through UCAS.

See here for further information

University of Bath Pharmacy MPharm (Hons) course

MPharm Pharmacy – Reading School of Pharmacy

MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy – University of Plymouth

Undergraduate clinical placements 

In January 2021, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) published the revised Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists.  These new standards herald many important changes to:

• strengthen supervision support, and collaborative working between higher education institutions, statutory education bodies and employers.
• provide greater emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion to combat discrimination and deal with health inequalities.

The fifth-year of the initial education and training of pharmacists is now called the foundation training year. This takes place after pharmacy students graduate with their MPharm degree, unless they have opted to participate in a 5-year MPharm with integrated training. It consolidates their initial learning and education, offers on-the-job, practical training in a clinical setting or settings, enabling trainee pharmacists to build upon their pharmacy knowledge, understanding, skills and behaviours, and previous experience, and apply them to enhance their knowledge and skills in preparation for registration.

The foundation trainee pharmacist programme from 2025/2026 | NHS England | Workforce, training and education

All designated supervisors (DSs) and designated prescribing practitioners (DPPs) responsible for the development of the foundation trainee pharmacist within the programme will be required to individually submit their details to the Pharmacy Information Management System (PIMS). As part of their application they must declare they meet the supervisor requirements as set out in the NHS England Prescribing Supervision and Assessment in the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme from 2025/26. More information on the roles of supervisors including the lead designated supervisor and their responsibility for signing the trainee as fit to enter the register of pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council can be found in the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme: Practice-based Assessment Strategy (from 2025/26) which can be found here.

Many GPs now directly employ their own trainee pharmacists as seen part of their investment in their future team.  NHS England Workforce, Training & Education (WTE) actively support all trainees to have 13 or 26 weeks within another pharmacy setting. This means many trainees from other settings, such as community pharmacy or hospital, get exposure, understanding and experience within GP.

Webinar recording – Foundation Pharmacist Training in GP/PCNs: What’s in it for me? | PCPA – Primary Care Pharmacy Association

Places are available across England which provide the opportunity to spend between three and six months in a rotational training post, in conjunction with hospital or community pharmacy foundation training.

Recruitment will be via the National Recruitment Scheme, Oriel. You can find more information regarding recruitment on the Student Zone.

More information can be found here

• Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice
• PCN Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice
• Primary Care Pharmacy Association

• Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP)
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Registration & Guidance
• Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Support and Training
• NHS England Pharmacy Integration Programme
• Primary Care Networks (PCNs) Guidance for Pharmacists
• The Centre for Advancing Practice
• Pharmacy Workforce Development South
• PCPA Guide for GPs Employing a Pharmacist | PCPA – Primary Care Pharmacy Association
• South West Pharmacy Research Network

• Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice Networks (via LinkedIn and professional bodies)
• Webinars and Training Events – Check the BNSSG Training Hub website for upcoming sessions
• Independent Prescribing Courses – Available through universities and CPPE
• Mentorship Programmes – Access peer support and professional development schemes

• Royal Pharmaceutical Society – Prescribing

Medicines and prescribing – BNSSG Healthier Together

Resources for medicines and prescribing – BNSSG Healthier Together

If you would like to get in touch with the Medicines Optimisation team, email: bnssg.medicines-optimisation@nhs.net.

A Non-Medical Referrer (NMR) is a nurse, allied health professional or clinical pharmacist who has extended their role to include referral to radiology to improve the delivery of care to patients.

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (and subsequent amendments) {IR(ME)R17} defines an NMR as being a member of a profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002(a).

For more information regarding IR(ME)R please see:  The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017

All information regarding NMR Radiological imaging in BNSSG can be found here Radiological Imaging for non-medical referrers – Avon LMC., 

Including:

• BNSSG Protocol for NMR
• SOP for FCP Physios
• Specific indications for FCP Physio
• Onboarding process and templates
• Referrer competence assessment and confirmation forms
• Audit form
• TVUSS for FRSH trained nurses
• Webinar outlining the process and updates
• National guidance and resources

ICE onboarding documentation can be found here: ICE System for Radiology (& Pathology) Referrers (Remedy BNSSG ICB)

Further advice or information about imaging for Non-Medical Referrers (NMR)

Please use the dedicated email addresses below:

• NBT: nmr@nbt.nhs.uk
• UHBW: RadiationProtectionTraining@UHBW.nhs.uk