Pharmacists continue to be the most popular ARRS role hired by PCNs, according to the latest workforce figures.

There were 5,308 full time equivalent (FTE) ARRS pharmacists working in PCNs in April 2024, according to NHS England primary care workforce statistics. This is up from 5,163 in January 2024.

This was closely followed by care coordinators, 4,771 FTE of which were working in PCNs in April, compared to 4,626 in January, and 2,845 FTE social prescribing link workers, down from 2,866 in January (see box for full breakdown).

Overall, there are over 24,000 FTE ARRS roles working in PCNs in England.

It comes as the Conservative party has pledged to expand Pharmacy First to free up 20 million GP appointments if they win the general election on 4 July.

The party would also build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise a further 150, they have promised this week, backed by £1bn in funding a year by 2029/30. This would be funded by cutting the number of NHS managers and ‘halving spend on consultants’ in the public sector.

Earlier this year, a study called for issues with ARRS to be addressed if its full potential was to be realised, including funding, estates and oversight.

This article first appeared on our sister title Pulse PCN.