Pharmacist Support has said it wants to improve its services over the next five years to address what it describes as “gaps in support” for the pharmacy sector.

In its strategy for 2020-2025, the charity insisted it will focus on five areas that include improving people's awareness of the work it does, increasing its funding, coping with rising demand for its services, ensuring its support “continues to reflect and respond to the issues facing pharmacy”, and doing more to raise awareness of the issues facing the profession.

Pharmacist Support said research it carried out to understand what more it can do to help individuals uncovered issues relating to the de-stigmatisation of mental health within pharmacy and concerns about confidentiality.

“Our recent research has given us a clear steer on what is needed and this has helped us shape our new five-year strategy and plans for the coming year,” said chief executive Danielle Hunt (pictured).

“There are some evident gaps in support and barriers to access that we hope to address. Over the next 12 months the charity will look to develop a clear pathway of support that includes more practical and emotional support.

Hunt also said that Pharmacist Support was “committed to running” its ACTNow well-being awareness campaign in 2021 and expressed her delight at “the continued involvement and support of the Pharmacists’ Defence Association” and other partners who have helped the charity's work.

PDA director Paul Day said: “The PDA and the charity provide different types of essential support to members of the profession at times of crisis and also work for longer term improvements to their wellbeing. The annual donation of £1 for each PDA member, plus donations from our members, has now provided more than £110,000 to the charity in just the first three years of our formal partnership.”