The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has urged NHS-employed pharmaciststo prepare to respond as the government once again fails to deliver a pay deal by the start of the financial year.
The new government committed to accelerating the NHS pay review process, but the beginning of April 2025 once again passed without “an agreement being in place,” the union stated.
“Pharmacists and their families are dealing with real-term reductions in their salaries brought about by years of under-inflation pay settlements from previous governments,” said the PDA.
To address that issue, the PDA urged the new government to agree to “above-inflation pay increases on an ongoing basis for several years.”
Not only are NHS pharmacists frustrated by the unresolved pay negotiations, but they are also under pressure from increasing workloads, chronic understaffing, and widespread structural changes within the health service.
The PDA highlighted that many pharmacists are also affected by recent announcements of structural changes in England, where Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS providers (hospitals and other trusts) have been asked to reduce their costs.
NHS England is set to be abolished and merged back into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with half of NHSE/DHSC jobs, including pharmacists, at risk.
The Pay Review Body (PRB) process—responsible for recommending annual pay increases for NHS staff outside Scotland—is currently underway.
In December 2024, the government proposed a 2.8% pay increase.
However, the PDA said it was “just above inflation” at the time and argued that “inflation has increased since then and is forecast to potentially rise further.”
The PRB reports are expected to be delivered to ministers soon, after which the government will confirm its response.
In the meantime, various trade unions in the NHS, including the PDA, will consult members about how to respond to any proposed increase.
Therefore, the PDA is encouraging all NHS pharmacists to “consider their position in the Agenda for Change pay arrangements, and to be aware of current inflation rates and forecasts to determine what they believe would be a fair increase for all NHS employees.”
Once a government proposal is public, pharmacists on those contracts are encouraged to share their views with the PDA on what they believe would be an appropriate response.
The union warned that an industrial action remains a last resort if negotiations fail and a majority of NHS-employed members support it.
Leadership groups from across the pharmacy sector need to work togetherPic credit: iStock