Independent Prescribing (IP) Pathfinder
The national NHSE Independent Prescribing (IP) Pathfinder Programme will conclude as planned on 31st March 2026.
Under this programme, 11 community pharmacies in West Yorkshire have been supporting patients through three clinical models:
- Extended Minor Illness
- Community Pharmacy Enhanced Support for Quality, Optimised and Safer Prescribing (QOSP)
- Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
As the programme ends, each participating community pharmacy is ensuring a safe and smooth transition for patients, liaising with local GP practices where required. For general practice and NHS 111, patients with minor illness will continue to be supported through existing Pharmacy First referral pathways.
See the latest IP Pathfinder Briefing regarding the conclusion to the programme below:
IP Pathfinder Programme Briefing – March 2026
Congratulations and thank you to our 11 community pharmacy sites across West Yorkshire who have all contributed to delivering the IP Pathfinder Programme. See our Sharing Success news item about the programme here.
West Yorkshire ICB is participating in the NHSE IP Pathfinder programme. See the IP Pathfinder Briefing from May 2024 below:
Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme – Briefing May 2024
The programme has been introduced by NHSE to inform the commissioning framework required to introduce independent prescribing into NHS community pharmacy services. The IP Pathfinder will explore how community pharmacists and their teams can deliver an integrated clinical service aligning prescribing activity with general practice and the population needs of local communities.
This national IP Pathfinder programme provides the opportunity to influence the future of independent prescribing within NHS community pharmacy and to test the different ways that independent prescribing in community pharmacy will benefit patients and the public. Developing the clinical skills of pharmacists as prescribers and pharmacy technicians with enhanced clinical skills to deliver clinical services is a key strategic aim for NHS England to create access for patients and enable capacity across primary care.
The ICB Stakeholder Briefing Event recording can be found here: https://youtu.be/
Last Updated: 11th March 2026
