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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to lead an independent review into how effectively pharmacy professionals work in GP practices.

The Government said the review will start this autumn and ministers hope to get feedback by next spring on the role of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy teams in general practice.

The RPS said the review will result in “evidence-based recommendations to maximise their impact in improving patient care, safety and outcomes”.

“As part of the review, a series of engagement events open to all general practice pharmacy professionals in Wales will be advertised shortly, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to input and inform the work,” the RPS said.

The England Pharmacy Board member Ankish Patel, the chief pharmacist and head of the primary care network workforce at Nottingham City General Practice Alliance, will lead the review.

The RPS said he will work with the Welsh Pharmacy Board “and an expert steering group who will bring together pharmacy leaders from across Wales, external expertise, and general practitioner representation appointed in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)”.

Patel said the review was “a valuable opportunity to highlight the impact of the workforce while gathering insight from pharmacy across other sectors, the multidisciplinary team and patients”.

“Together, we can set out a clear vision for how pharmacy professionals in general practice can best support patients and the wider priorities of the NHS in Wales,” he said.

RCGP chair Rowena Christmas said the review was “an important opportunity to gain insight and share best practice”.

“Practice-based pharmacists, and increasingly pharmacy technicians, have continually proven to be important colleagues as our general practice teams serve their local communities,” she said.

“I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the review and I’m sure many of my GP colleagues will wish to do likewise.”