More pharmacists are to be trained in Wales after the Welsh Government allocated an extra £0.762m to the pharmacy training budget.

The Welsh Government announced the funding boost today (7 December) as part of a £9.124m package to help fund training across all education and training programmes for healthcare professionals in Wales.

The package also includes an extra £5.321m to boost GP numbers.

According to the Welsh Government, this cash injection will support the highest ever number of training opportunities in Wales. This will also be the seventh consecutive year funding for NHS welsh health workforce has increased, it said.

Judy Thomas, director of contractor services at Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW), said: ‘Investment in the pharmacy training budget is always welcome and this is a valuable addition by Welsh Government. 

‘We look forward to working with HEIW for the investment in the training of frontline community pharmacists to provide additional clinical services.’

‘Great strength and resilience’

Mr Gething, Welsh minister for health and social services, said: ‘This year NHS Wales has shown great strength and resilience, which is only possible thanks to the dedicated workforce within it.

‘Health professionals continue to be on the frontline to care for us all, as we continue to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. As a nation we owe our health and care sector a huge amount of gratitude and I’m proud of everything they have achieved in this difficult and testing year.’

He added: ‘This year has shown more than ever how crucial investment is in training and sustaining our health workforce across Wales. NHS Wales has more people working within it now, than at any other time in its history, to care for every person, family and community in Wales.

‘The funding announced today will ensure the NHS workforce continues to have the right skills to provide high quality care for the people of Wales for now and in the future.’

Welsh pharmacy training

Last year, the health minister announced an extra £3.6 million to transform the way pharmacists are trained in Wales in 2020/21.

The funding, rising to an additional £4.9m by 2023/24, is expected to almost double the number of pharmacy training places from around 100 each year now, to 200 by August 2023.

Mr Gething also announced a £100,000 funding package in May last year to offer specialist clinical skills training for 50 Welsh pharmacists on managing minor ailments.