The pharmacy report will review the pharmacy provision across Mid Wales and will scope international best practice for delivery of these services in rural areas. The intent to review the pharmacy provision across Mid Wales was listed as an activity on the Rural Health and Care Wales (RHCW) 2024/25 Work Programme, which aligns with the strategic priorities of the Mid Wales Joint Committee for Health and Social Care (MWJC). Therefore, to successfully explore and determine the best model of practice of pharmacy provision across mid Wales, the report will aim to answer the following research question and its sub research questions:
i. What is the current pharmacy provision across mid Wales and how can this be improved?
ii. What is the pharmacy provision in mid Wales and the UK?
iii. What are the models of best practice to be implemented in the region?
iv. What challenges are faced in mid Wales and how can we address them?
Therefore, the report will review the pharmacy provision and examples of international best practice for the delivery of pharmacy services in rural areas across Mid Wales and will be reported to the RHCW Stakeholder Group and the MWJC to suggest possible ways to improve pharmacy services in Mid Wales.
A framework and project plan for the completion of this report has been created and approved which outlines the necessary steps needed to reach the report’s aims and objectives. Initial research has begun, where the author is conducting a literature review on the development of pharmacy provision and is providing the report with context through writing up a section on the background of pharmacy literature. The next steps for the report include the exploring of challenges faced within the field of pharmacy services in rural areas, and to seek examples of international best practice in pharmacy provision. Thus, the report will chronicle the review of publicly available data, literature and reports to meet the following aims and objectives:
- Outline the pharmacy provision across mid Wales
- Outline the services provided by pharmacies across Mid Wales
- Explore challenges to pharmacy service delivery
- Explore the models of best practice in pharmacy provision
- Provide recommendations for future directions of rural Wales pharmacy provision