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The intense pressures that pharmacy teams are facing due to medicine shortages are highlighted in the sixth annual RPS Workforce Wellbeing Survey,

The survey, carried out in partnership with Pharmacist Support and in collaboration with the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, reveals that this persistent issue has left pharmacy teams stressed and frustrated.

The survey found that in the past 12 months, 56 per cent of the 6,500 respondents said that pressures with managing medicines shortages had directly impacted their mental health and wellbeing.

A further 49 per cent reported they had suffered verbal abuse because of medicine shortages and 41 per cent said their patients had been put at risk by shortages.

The survey results, say the RPS, underline the urgent need for the government and NHS to create a national strategy to tackle medicine shortages and improve the resilience of supply chains, as called for in its recent report: Medicine shortages: solutions for empty shelves.

Beyond medicine shortages, factors which have negatively impacted mental health and wellbeing over the past year include: inadequate staffing (70 per cent); lack of work-life balance (49 per cent); increased financial pressures (47 per cent); lack of protected learning time (47 per cent); lack of colleague or senior support (47 per cent), and long working hours (34 per cent).

Overall, 87 per cent of respondents scored as being at high risk of burnout and just 21 per cent felt their mental health and wellbeing was a priority in the workplace. And 18 per cent of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians reported that they had taken time off due to the impact their work was having on their mental health

While many of the survey findings were similar for both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, there were some noticeable differences. For example, 43 per cent of pharmacy technicians reported that they enjoy or really enjoy their work, compared to just 34 per cent of pharmacists.

And while the proportion of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists offered breaks was similar, significantly more pharmacy technicians (47 per cent) were able to take them, compared to just 35 per cent of pharmacists.

At a time when pharmacy teams are increasingly being asked to deliver transformational change, the survey underscores the urgent need for better support systems to combat burnout and promote wellbeing at work, observes the RPS.

“Pharmacy teams want to do everything possible to provide the medicines their patients need, and it’s deeply distressing when they can’t. This sense of ‘moral injury’ – of knowing what patients need but being unable to deliver it due to circumstances beyond their control – is taking a heavy toll on their wellbeing,” said RPS President Professor Claire Anderson.

For the first time the survey included pharmacy technicians and was sent out to all those registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, which significantly increased the number of responses received.

Of the respondents, 67 per cent were pharmacists ( n=4,342) and 30 per cent were technicians (n=1962). The remaining 3 per cent of respondents were Foundation/Trainee pharmacists, students or others.

Those working in community practice pharmacy settings made up the largest proportion of respondents (46 per cent), followed by hospital pharmacy (26 per cent), general practice (12 per cent), and academia (3 per cent).

Pharmacist Support CEO Danielle Hunt said: “While systemic challenges, such as funding constraints and medicine shortages remain beyond the control of pharmacy teams, there are areas where change is possible – particularly in fostering a positive workplace culture.

“Strong evidence shows that creating an environment where people feel valued and supported can have meaningful impact on reducing burnout. That’s why our charity is currently focused on equipping individuals and workplaces with the tools needed to drive positive change.”

RPS, Pharmacist Support and APTUK will be convening a roundtable in mid-March to review the latest findings with the NHS, professional bodies, employers, trade unions and regulators.