Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme

Background  

The NHS Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing (IP) Pathfinder Programme was launched by NHS England to address growing pressures in primary care and improve access to treatment. From September 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers, creating an opportunity to integrate prescribing into community pharmacy services. The Pathfinder Programme enables pharmacists to manage long-term conditions like hypertension, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reviews, and lipid optimisation, offering patients more choice, and relieving GP workload. It supports the Fuller Stocktake vision for integrated neighbourhood care and aligns with the NHS Primary Care Recovery Plan.

Project overview

South West London Integrated Care Board (SWL ICB) was successful in its Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the Pathfinder Programme, which began in October 2023. The ICB commissioned the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London to provide project management support during programme setup and to oversee ongoing local delivery.

The programme went live in August 2024 with three pharmacies and two primary  care networks in Sutton. All national sites deliver the hypertension element, while local areas were able to select additional clinical priorities. SWL ICB chose to include HRT reviews as part of women’s health, alongside lipid management reviews.

The IP Pathfinder in south west London enables eligible patients to receive HRT, lipid management, and hypertension reviews in a local pharmacy, giving them greater choice over where and when they access care. By August 2025, 251 patients have been seen in pharmacy, with 96% indicating they would like more clinics available in these settings.

For patients not eligible for pharmacy review, the programme supports general practices by increasing overall system capacity, as a proportion of patients are managed in pharmacy settings.

Project outputs

The scheme’s success in supporting and complementing GPs, while upskilling pharmacists, has seen it shortlisted in the integrated care initiative category of HSJ Awards. The awards are a leading celebration of healthcare excellence.

Hear from one of our pharmacy sites in Sutton about how the Pathfinder Programme has benefitted their service.

This work will help NHS England to create a framework which will support the commissioning of independent prescribing as part of clinical services in community pharmacy in the future.