A new training programme to support the Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service (PIPS) in Wales has been announced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).

Written by practicing pharmacist prescribers and general practitioners, the training content will explore conditions that pharmacists practicing as prescribers in the community might be likely to encounter.

And it will be delivered via in-person workshops across North Wales, Mid and West Wales, and South Wales.

The sessions will cover diagnosis and treatment of common conditions and minor ailments, identifying red flag symptoms, and when and how to refer to other healthcare services.

Elen Jones, RPS director for Wales, said the content was developed following feedback from prescribing pharmacists about their professional development needs, through collaboration with Community Pharmacy Wales.

‘The programme's focus on common conditions and minor ailments aligns perfectly with the everyday challenges faced by pharmacists in their practice,’ she said.

‘By equipping pharmacists with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to treat specific conditions as prescribers, we are not only enhancing the quality of patient care but also strengthening the role of pharmacists as vital members of the healthcare team.’

And Margaret Allan, HEIW pharmacy dean, said the organisation hoped the programme would ‘improve confidence in prescribing and equity of access to the provision of the PIPS across Wales.’

From 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists across the UK will become independent prescribers at the point of registration.

And HEIW has committed to ensuring that all pharmacists in Wales identified as requiring an IP qualification 'have been safely and successfully trained to IP standards' by August 2026.

Read our recent interview with Elen Jones around the opportunities and challenges facing pharmacists in Wales, including the expansion of prescribing in a community setting.