Skill mix and independent prescribing – Key to driving pharmacy forward

“The workforce is your greatest asset,” said Nicola Stockmann, president of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK). Speaking at the recent Pharmacy Business Conference, she emphasised that investing in the entire pharmacy team, including pharmacy technicians and assistants, is essential for sustainable growth. As one of the four panel members discussing the importance of developing independent prescribing and skill mix in pharmacy, Nicola highlighted the benefits of optimising team roles. “By making sure the right person is doing the right thing at the right time, you can be more efficient with your services, and job satisfaction can improve across the whole team,” she said. Nicole also stressed the need to create a conducive learning environment in pharmacies: “The pharmacy environment is where we learn, so it must be conducive to learning for everyone.”