🧭 A Day in the Life of a PCN Pharmacist
Introduction: Beyond the Dispensing Counter
The role of pharmacists in primary care has changed dramatically. While many people still associate pharmacists with community pharmacies, those working in Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are part of multidisciplinary clinical teams — helping patients, supporting GPs, and shaping safer prescribing.
To truly understand their impact, it’s worth exploring what a typical day in the life of a PCN pharmacist looks like. Behind the clinic doors, their work touches every part of general practice — from managing high-risk medicines to empowering patients.
Morning: Prescription Safety and Clinical Triage
For most PCN pharmacists, the day begins early. The morning is often dedicated to prescription safety and clinical workflow management.
Typical tasks include:
- Reviewing prescription requests for appropriateness and safety
- Identifying high-risk or flagged items (e.g. NSAIDs, anticoagulants, opioids)
- Liaising with GPs and nurses to resolve prescription issues
- Handling patient queries related to side effects or medication shortages
This work ensures that prescribing remains safe and appropriate, preventing downstream problems such as adverse events or hospital admissions.
Pharmacists are often the first point of contact for prescription queries, meaning they act as a safety net for the entire clinical team.
Mid-Morning: Structured Medication Reviews
By late morning, many pharmacists move on to their core clinical activity: Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs). These are in-depth, evidence-based consultations focusing on patients at risk of medication-related harm — often those with polypharmacy, frailty, or long-term conditions.
An SMR typically involves:
- Reviewing each medicine for clinical appropriateness
- Identifying interactions, duplication, or side effects
- Discussing the patient’s understanding and preferences
- Adjusting treatment plans collaboratively with the GP
- Documenting outcomes and follow-up plans
SMRs improve safety, patient confidence, and adherence — and they’re a key NHS England priority.
Lunchtime: Multidisciplinary Team Meetings
Many PCN pharmacists participate in MDT (multidisciplinary team) meetings, particularly in larger practices or networks. Here, they collaborate with:
- GPs
- Practice nurses and ANPs
- Social prescribers
- Care coordinators
- Mental health practitioners
Together, they review complex cases, discuss vulnerable patients, and agree on joint care plans. Pharmacists bring a unique medicines perspective, often identifying risks or opportunities others may not see.
Afternoon: Long-Term Condition Clinics and Follow-Ups
In the afternoon, PCN pharmacists frequently run or support long-term condition clinics — particularly for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, COPD, and polypharmacy reviews.
For example:
- Reviewing blood pressure control in hypertensive patients
- Adjusting inhaler therapy in asthma or COPD
- Supporting diabetic patients with medication titration
- Rationalising treatment plans for frail older adults
These pharmacist-led clinics are increasingly important as more pharmacists become independent prescribers, enabling them to initiate or adjust therapy directly.
Follow-up calls are also a key part of the day. Pharmacists check how patients are responding to changes, address concerns, and ensure adherence.
Administrative and Governance Responsibilities
While much of a PCN pharmacist’s work is patient-facing, they also play an essential role in clinical governance and quality improvement.
Tasks might include:
- Auditing prescribing patterns (e.g. antibiotics, opioids)
- Developing protocols for safe repeat prescribing
- Contributing to practice and PCN-level QI projects
- Supporting training for other staff
This behind-the-scenes work improves safety and efficiency across the practice.
Future of the Role: Expanding Clinical Responsibility
The scope of a PCN pharmacist’s work is growing rapidly. By 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers, meaning more clinics, faster interventions, and less GP pressure.
In the future, pharmacists will:
- Lead disease-specific clinics
- Contribute more actively to population health planning
- Use digital tools to identify and proactively manage high-risk patients
How Prescribing Care Direct Supports PCNs
At Prescribing Care Direct, we support practices and networks by providing skilled pharmacists who can:
- Integrate seamlessly into clinical teams
- Deliver high-quality SMRs and LTC clinics
- Reduce GP workload
- Drive medicines optimisation and patient safety initiatives
We offer flexible models — from part-time support to full-time integration — depending on your network’s needs.
Conclusion: Quietly Transforming Primary Care
A PCN pharmacist’s day is busy, varied, and impactful. While much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes, the ripple effects are huge — safer prescribing, more efficient workflows, empowered patients, and reduced system pressure.
As the NHS evolves, pharmacists are no longer support staff; they’re core clinicians shaping the future of primary care.
📞 Call to Action:
If your PCN wants to build sustainable, high-quality services and reduce GP workload, Prescribing Care Direct can help.
👉 Contact us today to find out how our pharmacists can support your team and your patients.