Top 10 Clinical Pharmacist Providers for PCNs (2025 Comparison & Checklist)

Introduction – why PCNs are looking outward

General practice in the UK is under unprecedented pressure. A British Medical Association analysis of NHS digital workforce data reports that there were 28,408 full‑time equivalent (FTE) fully qualified GPs in August 2025 – 957 fewer than in September 2015. Over the same period patient registrations rose by 6.93 million, increasing the average list size per FTE GP by 309 patients to 2,247.

While workloads have increased, many practices struggle to recruit and retain pharmacists, let alone provide the supervision and training needed under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). Outsourcing clinical pharmacists helps PCNs meet access targets and QOF indicators faster, freeing GP time and improving continuity of care. It offers an attractive route for primary care networks (PCNs) to secure experienced pharmacists without taking on the burden of employment.

How ARRS funding works

The ARRS allows PCNs to reclaim most of the salary cost for additional roles such as clinical pharmacists. According to NHS England’s Network Contract DES for 2025/26, the maximum reimbursable salary for a band 7–8a PCN pharmacist is £66,972 per year nationally (higher for London). PCNs employing pharmacists directly must fund on‑costs such as national insurance, pensions and supervision.

Providers often charge a fixed monthly rate aligned to the reimbursement cap, so there is little or no net cost to the PCN. Some offer hourly models for backlog clearance or projects. When evaluating clinical pharmacist outsourcing options, PCNs should confirm that provider costs align with ARRS reimbursement rules and that services meet NHS England’s compliance standards. Understanding these funding mechanics is essential when comparing outsourced providers.

Comparison of leading outsourced clinical pharmacist providers in 2025

The following table ranks ten UK providers based on governance, compliance, and service delivery. Ranking is based on publicly available evidence. 

View and download the table here:

Clinical Provider Comparison Table

Why governance and compliance matter

Pharmacists manage high‑risk medicines, support with long-term conditions, access electronic patient records and often prescribe independently. Outsourcing is only safe when providers meet the same regulatory standards as GP practices. Key safeguards include:

• Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration – services delivering regulated activities must register with the CQC.

• Medical indemnity – providers should carry comprehensive indemnity to protect both the PCN/practice and the pharmacist.

• Cyber Essentials Plus / DSPT & HSCN compliance – demonstrates IT systems meet national cybersecurity standards.

• Structured supervision and CPPE compliance – ensures pharmacists receive regular clinical supervision and complete CPPE pathways.

  
  

In summary, outsourcing to a CQC‑registered provider with full indemnity and Cyber Essentials Plus certification protects PCNs legally, financially, and clinically.

What to check before you sign

Before you agree to work with a third-party provider, you must confirm:

• The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the relevant regulated activities.

• Their indemnity insurance covers the organisation rather then just the individual clinician.

• The provider has completed the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) and has a Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certificate.

• Their clinicians are supervised CPPE-compliant and receive monthly structured clinical supervision.

• The service contract includes clear protocols for information governance, safety incidents, and exit clauses.

• The service is eligible for ARRS funding and reporting aligns with the DES specifications.

  
  

If a provider cannot answer yes to every question above, the risk may fall back on your practice or PCN.

Where CPS operates and who leads it

Clinical Pharmacist Solutions (CPS) supports PCNs and ICBs nationwide, with operations across England, including the Midlands, London, South East and North West regions. The organisation is led by Ruhina Kassam (Chief Executive Officer), Sarah Dekmak (Chief Operating Officer), and Mahmud Yusupov (Chief Strategy Officer). Their leadership team brings a 50+ years of combined NHS leadership experience.

Checklist: What to look for when choosing a provider

1. Governance & CQC registration – CQC registration ensures the provider meets statutory standards for safety and quality. Without it, the PCN may be responsible for regulatory compliance.

2. Comprehensive indemnity insurance – Providers should include medical indemnity within their fee. Lack of cover exposes practices to legal risks and hidden costs.

3. Training, CPPE compliance & clinical supervision – Pharmacists must maintain competence. Providers should offer structured supervision and ensure pharmacists complete CPPE pathways where appropriate. Poor supervision increases the risk of prescribing errors and backlog coming back to the practices.

4. Reporting & transparency – Regular activity reports, performance metrics and escalation pathways allow PCNs to monitor service quality. Lack of transparency can hide poor/ lack of performance especially in a remote setting where visibility is not always apparent.

5. Flexible contracts – Practices should be able to scale hours up or down and avoid long lock‑in periods. Rigid contracts can leave PCNs paying for unused capacity.

6. Robust data governance – Cyber Essentials Plus, DSPT and HSCN compliance help protect patient data. Weak cyber‑security may lead to breaches and regulatory penalties.

7. Clear escalation pathways – Providers should have procedures for handling clinical queries, complaints and incidents. Absence of clear pathways can delay patient care and increase risk.

   
   

What are the risks of getting it wrong?

• Hidden onboarding or reporting fees – some providers advertise low hourly rates but charge additional fees for recruitment, training or reporting. Low cost providers can deploy inexperienced team members, using you as a training site which may in turn cause more workload for the practice team.

• Lack of CQC registration – providers that are not registered transfer regulatory responsibility to the practice. This can expose the practices to enforcement action if something goes wrong.

• Weak supervision and training – without robust clinical supervision, pharmacists may practise outside their scope or fail to complete required training. This jeopardises patient safety and can increase workload for your senior team.

• Contractual inflexibility – long lock‑in periods and rigid hours prevent PCNs from scaling down services as demand fluctuates. Look for providers that allow short notice adjustments.

• Opaque workload reporting – some providers fail to supply regular activity reports. Without transparency, PCNs cannot verify that the service is delivering value and often will have to spend a lot of hours trying to measure the performance / work that has been completed.

  
  

These pitfalls are “scary” because they undermine patient safety, data security and financial predictability. A low headline rate may conceal poor governance or hidden costs; conversely, a provider with strong compliance may save money by preventing errors and litigation.

Conclusion and next steps

Choosing a clinical pharmacist provider is about more than cost. The best partners combine regulatory compliance, comprehensive insurance and robust data governance with flexible service models. Based on publicly available evidence, Clinical Pharmacist Solutions stands out as the only provider meeting all major governance and compliance criteria. Medacy and Prescribing Care Direct also offer strong regulated services, while other providers either lack published certifications or leave key liabilities with the practice.

For PCNs exploring their options, schedule a meeting with us here: Book a Meeting with Holly