Think pharmacists only count pills behind a counter? Think again! This essential healthcare profession is constantly evolving, but many people still hold onto outdated beliefs about their role, training, and capabilities.
We’ve teamed up with pharmacy candidates Sara Waheed and Rhys Harries, who work with Lead Associate Jack Margetts from our Pharmacy team, to set the record straight on six of the biggest myths. From prescribing medicine and running specialist patient clinics to working in diverse settings like GP surgeries and research, discover how pharmacists are moving far beyond the traditional community pharmacy role to become vital, highly-trained members of the patient care team. Learn about their rigorous education, varied career paths, and significant impact on managing complex conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Myth 1: Pharmacists can only distribute tablets
Fact: Pharmacists don’t just count tablets - we make sure medicines are safe, effective, and actually work for each individual patient. A big part of the job is advising patients, spotting any potential problem with medications, as well as helping doctors and nurses get the best results from treatments!
- Sara
Myth 2: Pharmacists don’t interact with patients
Fact: I run clinics within a GP surgery where I have 25-30 in-person appointments with a variety of patients daily! These appointments cover everything from diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, UTIs, HRT, pain management, and more.
- Rhys
Myth 3: All pharmacists work in a community pharmacy
Fact: While some do, not all pharmacists work behind a community pharmacy counter. You’ll find us in hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, research, digital health, industry and more. A pharmacist’s or pharmacy technician’s role is a lot more diverse than most people realise.
- Sara
Myth 4: Pharmacists can’t specialise
Fact: With my post-graduate certifications in Diabetes, I manage patient outcomes, which include starting insulin and GLP-1s. Pharmacists’ involvement in diabetes care has reduced the percentage of patients with high HbA1c, improved the surgeries QOF payments, whilst also improving the quality of life by reducing complications from diabetes.
- Rhys
Myth 5: A pharmacist’s education is less rigorous than a doctors
Fact: Pharmacists train for years too - our 4-year Pharmacy degree is heavily science and medicine-based, with lots of clinical learning. You then have 1 year of pre-reg and post-graduate qualifications, such as independent prescribing. While the focus is different from a doctor’s, the training is just as rigorous in its own way, to make us experts on medicine.
- Sara
Myth 6: Pharmacists can only provide advice; they can’t prescribe
Fact: Many pharmacists are now trained and qualified to prescribe medicines independently, with the postgraduate qualification in independent prescribing, just like doctors and nurses. We don’t just give advice, we manage treatment and make prescribing decisions for patients.
- Rhys
