§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the availability of(a)trained pharmacists and (b)other staff within pharmacy. [21080]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department has received a number of representations from organisations with an interest in pharmacy.
We recognise that, in spite of increasing training places and introducing recruitment and retention initiatives, there have been problems in recruiting pharmacists particularly over the last year. This is a result of the switch from a three to a four-year undergraduate pharmacy course in 1997 and growing demand for pharmacists, particularly in primary care. Skill mix initiatives have increased the demand for other staff within pharmacy leading to shortages in some areas.
The increases in pharmacy student intakes—27 per cent. more new students started training in 2000 than in 1993—point to a significant medium term-growth in the pharmacy workforce despite the change to a four-year undergraduate course. Workforce modelling undertaken by the Department suggests that there will be a 12 per cent. increase in the pharmacy workforce across the national health service and private sector between 1998 and 2003.