Evaluation of NHS Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme in Hertfordshire and West Essex

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board received funding from NHS England to pilot the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme across six community pharmacy sites. The Programme enables local systems to test a range of prescribing models aligned with local population health needs. It recognises the potential of pharmacist prescribers and enhanced pharmacy technician roles to improve timely access to treatment, support people with long-term conditions, and contribute to illness prevention.

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board have commissioned the Research and Innovation Hub to undertake a pragmatic evaluation of the implementation and delivery of the Independent Prescriber Pathfinder Programme. The evaluation seeks to understand the volume, type, and outcomes of consultations delivered through the local pilot. It will also outline how the programme has been established and delivered across the six community pharmacy sites, the factors that have supported or hindered implementation, and the experiences of Independent Prescribers and GPs delivering and engaging with the service. We will also explore how patients experience the service in terms of access, safety, trust, and outcomes.