A 10-year strategy for UK pharmacy has set out a shared vision to make research “an integral, accessible and inclusive part of every pharmacist’s and pharmacy technician’s career”.
Developed by the UK Pharmacy Research Advisory Group, the strategy lists strategic goals across building research skills and leadership, developing supportive systems and structures, fostering a research-positive culture, and embracing digital and technological innovation.
PRAG highlights a them to develop a professional culture where research activity is valued as part of pharmacy roles, and capabilities will be in place for the use of digital tools and emerging technologies in routine practice.
Objectives include promoting new and existing training programmes to build research skills, establish local research hubs, arrange with employers to allow allocated research time, and embed research activities in career progression criteria.
On tech and innovation, the group shares ambitions to provide training in tech such as AI, data science, and EHRs; to use digital platforms to support data sharing and collaboration; and to use tech to accelerate research processes, improving efficiency for pharmacy professionals.
Metrics will reportedly be collected on the number of pharmacy professionals taking part in research, receiving research awards, and leading research as principal investigators.
“Together, we will create a future where pharmacy research is embedded within practice, driving innovation, improving patient care, expanding career development and satisfaction, and strengthening the role of pharmacy within the broader research community,” PRAG notes. “With each step, the aim is to build a robust and sustainable foundation for pharmacy research, ensuring that this strategy serves the needs of today, and supporting the NHS while paving the way for the next generation of researchers and innovators.”
Wider trend: Digital pharmacy
The Northern Ireland government has invested £100 million in funding into its ePharmacy programme and to support earlier intervention for children and families. The ePharmacy primary care digital reform programme is to support prescriptions to be digitally transferred to community pharmacies, with the Department of Health sharing hopes this will streamline the process for patients. A new digital platform is planned to support the delivery of clinical services through community pharmacies, with an aim to enhance access to care and bring treatment closer to people’s homes.
NHS England has opened a secondary care medicines data pre-market engagement, with high level objectives around achieving a reporting function on stock and daily issuance of medicines in secondary care, and a price comparison tool. With a total value of £6.75 million, the preliminary market engagement notice shares details of plans to secure capability and related tooling for the processing of data from hospital pharmacy systems, along with associated licensing and implementation support.
An EPR tool offering a calculator and clinical decision support for safer medicines management has been launched at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. The Anticholinergic Medication Index (ACMI) tool aims to support prescribers and pharmacists assess patient anticholinergic burden in patients aged 65 and over in inpatient and day case settings. Integrated directly into the EPR, the trust shares that the tool has the capability to automatically update ACMI scores when an anticholinergic medication is prescribed or changed, using a scoring system based on 88 “commonly prescribed” medicines.
