Defining the Future Respiratory Pharmacist – Does the Draft BTS Framework Shape Scope of Practice and Workforce Development?

Defining the Future Respiratory Pharmacist – Does the Draft BTS Framework Shape Scope of Practice and Workforce Development?

Mildred Johnson, Chief Pharmacist and Clinical Director of Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, explored how the draft British Thoracic Society (BTS) Professional Development Framework could help shape the future of respiratory pharmacy practice and workforce development.

In a highly interactive presentation, she examined the relationship between competency, credentialing and scope of practice, highlighting how pharmacists’ roles are evolving beyond traditional medicines optimisation towards advanced clinical practice, independent prescribing and leadership.

More than a competency document, the draft BTS framework aims to define specialist practice, support workforce development, enabling foundation to advanced consultant practice, support safe role expansion, and to be a useful resource in conjunction with other tools for credentialing.

However, future iterations of the framework may need to address digital capability, integrate care and collaboration, provide more consultant-level outcomes, drive workforce implementation and focus on respiratory service capacity.

Mildred concluded by saying that the greatest value of the framework is that it helps define what specialist respiratory pharmacists should be capable of doing safely, effectively and consistently.

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