S2, Episode 6: What Have We Learned So Far? with Stephen Riley

In this episode of Policy Unpacked, a podcast by the Global Policy Network (GPN), Ameneh Ghazal Saatchi is joined by Stephen Riley, GPN Associate and Deputy Regional Chief Pharmacist for Pharmacy Integration at NHS England Northwest, to reflect on the key insights from the Medicines in the NHS 10-Year Plan podcast series.

This episode brings the main part of this series to a close, drawing together lessons from system leaders across community, hospital, and primary care pharmacy, and examining what the NHS 10-Year Plan means in practice for medicines, workforce, and patient care.

• The key roles and opportunities for community pharmacy under the NHS 10-Year Plan

• Where hospital pharmacy can have the greatest impact over the next decade

• The central role of medicines optimisation and why it underpins system reform

• The importance of pharmacy system leadership in delivering the ambitions of the Plan

• What the pharmacy workforce needs to look like to meet future demand

• Professional development opportunities for pharmacists across clinical, leadership, and advocacy roles

• The evolving role of pharmacy technicians and how their contribution can be strengthened

• Changes in education and training for pharmacists and technicians and how these can be built upon

• Maintaining a patient-centred focus while operating within constrained resources

• The role of pharmacists within neighbourhood-based, multidisciplinary teams

• The biggest challenges and risks facing the pharmacy profession

• Whether the profession is ready to deliver what the NHS 10-Year Plan requires

• What pharmacy services could look like as the Plan is realised

• Reflections on optimism, realism, and readiness across the sector

• Key moments and standout insights from across the series

• Where GPN should take the NHS 10-Year Plan podcast series next

  Key Themes

• Medicines optimisation as a system-wide enabler

• Community and hospital pharmacy transformation

• Workforce development, capability, and sustainability

• Pharmacy leadership at neighbourhood, system, and national level

• Patient-centred care within integrated services

• Delivering long-term policy ambition through frontline practice

  
  

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