One in three pharmacists in Great Britain (34%) are now independent prescribers, according to recent data from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
As of 31 March 2025, some 21,804 pharmacists now have an independent prescriber annotation, representing 33% of all registered pharmacists in Great Britain, the data shows.
However, the number of independent prescribers varies across England, Wales and Scotland.
Figures show that nearly half (48%) of pharmacists in Scotland are prescribers, with 2,685 having prescriber annotation. In Wales, the number of pharmacists with an independent prescriber annotation is 44% – an increase of 7% from the previous year. The number stands at 32% of the workforce in England, up 5% from the previous year.
The total number of pharmacists on the register was 65,776, up by 1,383 (2.2%) from 64,393 at the same time last year.
Independent prescribing: an upward trend
Graham Stretch, president of the Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA), said: ‘The upward trend in pharmacists being annotated to prescribe is a welcome indication of the development of our profession.
‘As we reach a “critical mass” of colleagues possessing these competencies, it will become increasingly possible for NHS services to be commissioned including prescribing – which can only benefit our patients with improved, timely access to medicines and pharmacists’ expertise.’
Commenting on the higher figures for independent prescribers in Scotland, Dr Stretch said this reflected an ‘innovative investment’ in services and workforce north of the border.
‘With this progress, improved safety and increased capacity will be delivered. With the new cohort of foundation trainees qualifying in just 15 months we will see this progress accelerate with prescribing increasingly becoming a standard competence for pharmacists working in all settings,’ he added.
Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison also welcomed the news but noted that ‘community pharmacy is unfortunately lagging behind’ and does not reflect the same increases as the independent prescriber figures are ‘driven by high numbers of prescribers in other sectors’.
Indeed, a 2023 survey by Community Pharmacy England found that only 2,217 community pharmacists in England were qualified as independent prescribers – or around 8% of the total community pharmacist workforce. At the time, the figure for all sectors was 24%.
A ‘significant milestone’ in independent prescribing
Writing on behalf of the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, Jay Badenhorst, PDA director of pharmacy said the organisation welcomes the new independent prescribing data, adding: ‘This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the pharmacy profession and reflects the commitment of pharmacists to develop advanced clinical skills that can improve patient care and alleviate pressures on the wider health system.
‘We particularly note the accelerated growth in Wales (44%) and Scotland (48%), which continues to outpace England (32%). These differences mirror long-standing regional variations in workforce investment and structured clinical service implementation. However, while the statistics appear promising on the surface, the reality facing many pharmacist IPs is far more complex.’
Mr Badenhorst highlighted ‘a lack of clarity and consistent policy direction about how IPs are to be effectively and safely deployed’.
He added: ‘The PDA believes that independent prescribing has enormous potential to enhance patient access, optimise medicines use, and relieve burden on GPs and hospitals. But this potential can only be realised if prescribing roles are developed safely, equitably and strategically.’
Broadening opportunities for patient care
A GPhC spokesperson said: ‘It is great to see that a third of pharmacists across Great Britain have now successfully completed an independent prescribing course, giving them even more opportunities to provide treatment and care to patients and the public.
‘We expect the proportion of pharmacists who are independent prescribers on our register will continue to increase significantly, particularly as all newly-qualified pharmacists joining the register from 2026 will be independent prescribers from the point of registration.’
‘We are committed to working collaboratively across pharmacy so that pharmacists who do not yet have the prescribing annotation can access that opportunity.’
Hospital Pharmacy Europe‘s sister title The Pharmacist understands that some pharmacists have raised concerns around whether those who will be prescribers on registration and current pharmacists who have done the stand-alone independent prescriber course will be assessed to same level, as well as whether pharmacist independent prescribers are being assessed to the same levels as independent prescribers in other professions.
In December, the GPhC was given the green light to introduce ‘enhanced processes’ to its quality assurance of pharmacists’ education and training, including an annual survey of students and trainees about the quality of education and training they are receiving.
In 2023, an independent review found support for the idea of non-medical prescribers taking the Prescribing Safety Assessment, as more professionals, including pharmacists, gain prescribing qualifications.
Prescribing development programme for pharmacists
In April, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) announced it will be launching a comprehensive new prescribing development programme for its members, which is designed to support pharmacists across all stages of their independent prescribing careers.
Starting from 23 June 2025, the 18-month-long programme offers practical, ongoing support for pharmacists who are new to prescribing, returning to practice or looking to expand their scope, the RPS said. It aims to build on existing experience, help pharmacists to grow professionally and deliver safe, person-centred care.
Helen Chang, RPS associate director for education, said: ‘This new programme is about giving pharmacists the confidence and tools they need to thrive as prescribers. With independent prescribing becoming a central part of pharmacy practice, it’s crucial that pharmacists feel supported every step of the way.’
