The RPS has today published Professional Standards for Public Health Practice for Pharmacy which sets out a best practice framework for the delivery of public health services across all pharmacy settings in England and Wales. We hope these standards will inspire and support pharmacists and their teams to develop their public health professional practice and aspire to excellence.

With public health services increasingly provided by pharmacists and their teams, the profession is now a key part of public health provision. The RPS working with organisations including RSPH, the Faculty of Public Health and the Pharmacy and Public Health Forum has set out nine standards, which mirror the Faculty of Public Health nine key areas for public health practice for all public health professionals to ensure these services are delivered to the highest quality.

RPS Chief Executive Helen Gordon said: “I am delighted to see the publication of the Professional Standards for Public Health Practice for Pharmacy. This is the first time pharmacists, pharmacy teams, pharmacies and commissioners have been given a full set of professional standards which will drive excellence in the design and delivery of public health pharmacy practice in England and Wales.

“For pharmacists and pharmacy organisations the standards will act as a framework to ensure they deliver the best possible health outcomes for the public and the patient. The standards will assure commissioners and the public that the profession will deliver these services to the highest possible standard.

“The patient and the public always remain our key focus. These standards should also act as a resource setting out a recognised standard of person centred care that people should experience when receiving public health services through pharmacy and pharmacy teams.

“I would like to thank all members of the task group for their hard work. In particular I’d like to pay special thanks to Ruth Wakeman, RPS Head of Professional Support, and Gul Root, Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health, who have worked tirelessly during the development these standards”.

Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said: “I am delighted to welcome the launch of the Professional Standards for Public Health Practice for Pharmacy. This is the first time that professional pharmacy public health standards have been put in place in England. They present a unique opportunity for the pharmacy community to take a leading role in improving people’s health and ultimately save lives. These standards will allow pharmacists and their teams to align their practice with the rest of the public health workforce, allowing greater integration with fellow health and wellbeing teams.”

RSPH Chief Executive Shirley Cramer commented: “Pharmacies are an integral part of public health and we hope the professional standards serve as a further step in recognising, supporting and developing this role. By aligning the professional standards for pharmacy with those developed for public health, we are further communicating the position of pharmacy as part of the public health workforce. Crucially the standards apply to the whole pharmacy team providing individuals at every level with a practical framework and inspiration to deliver a service which will improve the health and wellbeing of the community and inform the public health community.”

Dr Edmund Jessop, Vice President for Standards, Faculty of Public Health added: “Faculty of Public Health welcomes this major undertaking by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to embed public health as a core function of pharmacies. These standards provide a solid foundation to continue the development of pharmacies as health improvement champions for the people they serve. We look forward to working with the RPS and its members to support this important work."