Developing Adaptable Pharmacy Professionals - Market Engagement (NHS England)

NHS England (NHSE - the Authority) will be commencing a Market Engagement for Developing adaptable pharmacy professionals through training and education.

Pharmacy professionals play an integral role in the delivery and expansion of NHS services across sectors; with a growing workforce of circa 54,000 pharmacists and circa 21,500 pharmacy technicians. The role of pharmacy professionals will continue to develop, aligning with key drivers such as the Long-Term Workforce Plan, Community Pharmacy Contract, Primary Care Recovery Plan, and NHS Pharmacy First Service initiative.

NHSE's Workforce Training & Education directorate are committed to supporting this workforce, and therefore aim to strengthen available offers through our intentions to commissioning a robust national programme of training and education.

It is intended this will include two distinct workstreams:

1. A core education package - offering service-relevant training available to the full breadth of the workforce; and
2. A reorientation training pathway for pharmacy professionals changing their scope or sector of practice, initially focusing on primary care.

This PIN (Prior Information Notice) is to advise prospective providers of our intention.

We plan to hold a Market Engagement Session on 28 February 2024, 16:00 - 17:00 to share more information with organisations interested in this work. The event will provide an opportunity for potential providers to find out more about the aims of the tender and the anticipated procurement process, to participate in general discussion and to network.

Please RSVP by 26/02/2024 by 12:00 Noon with the name, title and contact details for attendees (a maximum of two attendees per organisation) to: england.traininghubs@nhs.net. Please note that data may be available to others while attending this Market Engagement Event session.

An invite to the MS Teams session will be sent prior to 27/02/2024.

NHSE will use the opportunity to gather intelligence and may influence and inform the development of the final tender.

The contracting authority reserves the right not to proceed with the Procurement, or any part thereof, or change the requirements as necessary at any time.

If the Authority decides to proceed with the opportunity, the procurement will be conducted under PCR 2015 (Public Contracts Regulations 2015), where a separate advert will be released advertising the opportunity.