Community pharmacy is transforming. But if we’re honest, too much of our progress is being held back by outdated systems, clunky workflows and a lack of digital coordination. While we talk about service delivery, integration, and being a key part of NHS frontline care, the tools we’ve got often feel like they’re from a different decade.

What if we reimagined that?

Imagine a world where the moment a pharmacist logs into the responsible pharmacist (RP) record for a branch, the system immediately knows which advanced and locally commissioned services they’re accredited to deliver. It links to their GPhC registration, checks the branch opening hours, and updates the NHS profile in real time. Suddenly, GPs and NHS 111 don’t need to guess whether a pharmacy can offer a certain service on any given day. They’d just know. And so would the patient.

No more frustration from patients being signposted to a pharmacy for a service that isn’t available that day. No more wasted referrals. No more missed opportunities.

Building a Connected Pharmacy Ecosystem

This kind of system would need smart use of data — and the willingness to get around the table and agree on standards. Credentialling for services would have to be universally recognised and digitally integrated. But it’s not an impossible dream. The NHS already has digital infrastructure, and we’ve seen the power of centralised data in the way vaccine appointments and prescriptions are now managed.

The same system could be designed to factor in real-time prescription workload. If volume is high and pharmacist time is stretched, appointments could be automatically scaled back or redirected. That means manageable workflows, better patient experiences and a safer, more sustainable way of working.

What’s in it for Pharmacy Teams?

For pharmacists, this isn’t about handing over control to machines. Quite the opposite. It’s about giving pharmacy professionals the tools to manage their day in a smarter, more responsive way. Instead of being overwhelmed by sudden demand, the system works with you. It anticipates the strain and protects your time to deliver clinical services when you can actually give them the attention they deserve.

It’s also about raising our profile. A nationally visible system that showcases what services a pharmacist can offer, right now, helps drive awareness, confidence and respect from both patients and other healthcare providers.

What Needs to Happen

To get there, we need:

Agreement on national data standards for service credentialling.

Integration of the GPhC register, RP logs and NHS profile systems.

Real-time workload tracking and smart appointment allocation.

Policy and commissioning frameworks that reward digital innovation.

Investment in infrastructure to make it all possible.

This isn’t about tech for the sake of it. It’s about creating a pharmacy system that reflects what we’re capable of. Responsive, reliable, and rooted in the real world of day-to-day pharmacy life