Pharmacy technicians in focus

APTUK president Nicola Stockmann shares insights on recent legislative changes, NHS apprenticeship funding, and the future prospects for pharmacy technicians…

At the recent Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) Conference, NHS England Chief Pharmaceutical Officer David Webb announced a major investment: 530 apprenticeships for community pharmacy pre-registration pharmacy technicians (PTPs) for the 2024/25 period.

“This announcement shows a real investment in pharmacy technicians. It will impact all areas of practice, not just within community pharmacies,” says Nicola Stockmann, APTUK President.

This follows a legislative change in June allowing pharmacy technicians to administer and supply medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and provide comprehensive counseling on PGD-approved medicines.

These developments highlight the growing recognition of pharmacy technicians as integral members of the pharmacy team.

“The NHS England long-term workforce plans pledged to grow the number of pharmacy technicians, and we’re seeing this commitment through actions like these,” Stockmann tells Pharmacy Business.

The NHS-funded apprenticeships will yield both immediate and long-term benefits, says Stockmann.

She explains: “As these apprentices train and qualify over the next two years, the pharmacy workforce will expand, enhancing service capacity and patient access. This growth will continue to positively impact pharmacy services for years to come.”

APTUK is actively advocating for pharmacy technicians, collaborating with large employers to ensure a supportive work environment, and has successfully challenged the MHRA to allow pharmacy technicians to report yellow cards independently.

Stockmann notes: “Pharmacy technicians are autonomous healthcare professionals. It’s crucial to address systemic bias and support their role effectively. While this change may seem small, the impact on our profession in the clinical space is significant.”

In the past year, APTUK has participated in key consultations on supervision, PGDs, and naloxone—a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.

“Our voices are not only being heard, but our opinions are being sought in ways we haven't experienced before,” says Nicola.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed on 14 May 2024 that more professionals, including pharmacy professionals, will be allowed to supply naloxone without a prescription, expanding access to life-saving treatment. Previously, only drug and alcohol treatment services were allowed to provide take-home supplies of naloxone.

Now pharmacy technicians are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the supervision consultation, which was launched in early December last year.

Pharmacy bodies including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) have supported the legislative change to allow registered pharmacy technicians to work without direct supervision. The rule change is designed to free up pharmacists to provide more clinical care, which in turn would help reduce GP appointments.

“The supervision consultation is really important, and could have major implications for community pharmacy, potentially impacting how it operates and is structured,” Nicola says.

However, Nicola notes that supporting pharmacy technicians in their expanded roles requires fostering both competence and confidence.

“Competence demonstrates necessary skills, while confidence enables the effective use of those skills,” Stockmann says.

“Confidence comes from both the individual and the pharmacy team,” Nicola adds, noting that technicians need support from their colleagues to fully utilise their skills.

The changing perception towards technicians

Nicola views the inclusion of pharmacy technicians in workforce plans as a significant change in how their role is perceived.

She says: “I can't shout about that enough, because historically it has been pharmacists who were named, and possibly pharmacy teams. Now, we're seeing a shift toward recognising the professional role of pharmacy technicians and their contributions to pharmacy services as well as our essential support staff."

“We're now named specifically as a profession within workforce plans, which is incredibly significant in terms of professional recognition.

“We're not just seeing it in words; we're seeing it in action. We've seen the legislative changes and getting the investment in pharmacy technicians.”

Despite these advancements, Stockmann acknowledges that challenges remain and advocacy continues to be needed to ensure the right information about the profession is widely understood.

She continues: “Sometimes other organisations may not fully appreciate the role and capacity of pharmacy technicians, and how we can safely support the pharmacy services. We're always open to discussions to bridge that gap.”

Additionally, she stresses the importance of addressing the disparities in the experiences of pharmacy technicians, particularly those from minority ethnic backgrounds.

“There is still much work to be done in terms of improving environmental factors and ensuring that experiences and the opportunities open to pharmacy technicians are equitable.”

Expanding research opportunities

APTUK is set to launch a UK research register for pharmacy technicians, providing easier access to research opportunities.

Nicola explains the reasoning behind this initiative: “We have some trailblazers already well-established in the research field, but we want to facilitate that opportunity for others. That's why APTUK will be holding a register for those interested in getting involved in research.”

“This will allow us to facilitate professional development for pharmacy technicians as new research opportunities arise, while also contributing to pharmacy research. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and we’re incredibly proud that our professional leadership body will be spearheading this initiative.”

Nicola says that they have been collaborating with Professor Mahendra Patel, Director of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, on a study aimed at tackling health disparities and advancing clinical research.

The Genes and Health study, led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust, seeks to improve health outcomes in British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani communities by involving the wider pharmacy workforce, including technicians.

Pharmacy technicians will play a key role in recruiting participants and collecting essential health data.

Professor Patel previously shared with Pharmacy Business that the study aims to recruit 100,000 participants aged 16 and over, who will provide saliva samples and medical records.

This data will be instrumental in developing improved treatments and preventive strategies, particularly for communities that face disproportionately high rates of diabetes and other chronic conditions.

"I think this is incredible because it's based in community pharmacy and an opportunity for pharmacy technicians to support health equity research, even though it's currently focused in a specific area of the country,” Nicola states.

Major challenges facing pharmacy technicians

Nicola says: “I think morale, and this extends to the wider pharmacy team as well.”

She explains that factors such as high workload, time constraints, pharmacy closures and ongoing battles regarding remuneration for services and medicines can impact the morale of pharmacy teams and their ability to provide consistently and without limitations the patient care we all joined our pharmacy professions to give.

Ongoing issues like medicine shortages and financial pressures also impact the effectiveness of learning and patient care environments, she notes.

She stresses the need for all stakeholders coming together to support one another. “We know the job is tough, but let’s ensure that we support and have confidence in each other because we don't need additional barriers to getting through the day.”

Additionally, she underscores the need for focusing on retention and not just recruitment of workforce.

Stockmann also expresses concern about the lack of diversity among pharmacy technicians, who are predominantly white females.

“It’s crucial to understand the attrition rate of pre-registration pharmacy technicians and whether certain groups face barriers to entering the profession,” she notes.

While registration data is available for pharmacists, similar information for pharmacy technicians is lacking.

Nicola adds that this gap in data prevents them from addressing potential equity issues and understanding why the workforce lacks diversity.

APTUK has written to the GPhC to improve data collection to better identify and action any barriers to entering the profession.

What’s next for pharmacy technicians?

Nicola acknowledges that while the legislative changes act as an enabler, similar to obtaining a driving license, allowing pharmacy technicians to expand their scope of practice, additional training will be required to handle certain areas.

“We also need to ensure that the scope of practice brought about by these legislative changes is reflected in remuneration, roles, recognition in policy, and workforce plans, and that we're getting the confidence from our colleagues and the public.”

Nicola notes that the legislative changes will finally bring overdue professional recognition for pharmacy technicians.

Looking ahead, Stockmann is enthusiastic about the future of pharmacy technicians, especially their involvement in research.

Stockmann shares that they are reviewing their strategy to ensure it remains “forward-focused.”

As APTUK President, Stockmann reflects on her role with pride. "I've officially been serving as APTUK president since March. I’m seven months into the role, and it’s been an incredible journey.

“I've had the opportunity to represent APTUK and our profession internationally, support consultations and witness subsequent legislative changes positively impacting the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians, and see our recognition also reflected in workforce plans. Additionally, I have challenged where the inclusion of pharmacy technicians has either been overlooked or fallen short of expectations.”

Before becoming president, Nicola was the Vice President of APTUK.  “I’ve been involved in APTUK leadership for some time. I’m immensely proud of the work we do,” she adds.

She encourages pharmacy technicians to engage actively in consultations and advocate for their profession.

“Your voice matters in shaping your future and our future as pharmacy technicians as part of wider pharmacy services as part of the wider healthcare landscape”

"When consultations come through, engage with them. If someone is asking for your opinion or if you feel you have something valuable to contribute, do so. Your experience is unique, and discussions and policies are richer with your input.

“When we encourage engagement with the professional leadership body, we truly want to hear from you. National consultations are an opportunity for you to have a say. As we shape our future strategy, your voice and experiences are important."

“Advocate for yourself, advocate for your patients, and advocate for the future professionals coming behind you and your pharmacy team.”