UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for healthcare professionals; however, with organisational pressures hindering their ability to spend time on training or attend educational events, could they be adding to the problem?
In this article, we explore the current pressures facing the NHS, how these are affecting workforce development, and look at how staff can prioritise CPD despite these challenges.
The UK’s growing ageing population, rising operational costs, and seasonal pressures are just some of the factors contributing to mounting operational pressures across the NHS. Together, these impact the amount of time and money available for staff to dedicate to training.
The UK’s growing ageing population is one of the key factors placing increased pressure on the organisation, meaning that more older people require care than ever before. Age UK’s State of Health and Care of Older People in England 2025 report found that there are approximately 22.3 million people aged 50 and over in England, which equates to 38% of the country’s total population. By 2045, this is projected to increase by 4.2 million to 26.6 million (42% of England’s population).
Older people are more likely to require health and social care, and an increasing elderly population will only heighten the pressures on the NHS further. A skilled healthcare workforce is required to care for this demographic, but with limited time available to focus on training and development, there are concerns as to whether patients will be able to access the care they require at the necessary time.
With rising costs impacting multiple industries, the cost of delivering healthcare has increased in recent years, due to rising drug costs and volumes for example. As more of each department’s budget needs to be spent on providing care, this means there’s less money available for training and development.
The NHS faces heightened pressures during the winter months, leading to even less time available for staff to dedicate to essential training or development during these seasonal periods.
Staff shortages and seasonal pressures can overwhelm A&E departments. What’s more, delayed discharges mean patients continue to occupy beds that they no longer need, leading to bed shortages and the potential for ‘corridor care’.
Analysis of NHS data by the Health Foundation showed that up to 14% of hospital beds were occupied by patients who were ready to be discharged during the winter of 2024-25. This isn’t just a seasonal issue, however, as data also shows an increase in delayed discharges from 10.1% to 11% from July to September 2024 compared to the same period in 2025 – that’s equivalent to approximately 19,000 bed days.
All of this further creates pressure on staff and consumes resources that could have been directed towards other patients, or spent on improving patient care and staff training.
With time limited, pressure high, and budgets restricted, mounting operational challenges are significantly impacting workforce development.
Patrick Wilson, Chief Pharmacist and Clinical Director of Medicines Optimisation at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says, “The ability to provide excellent education to pharmacy teams is critical to the provision of safe, effective healthcare. However, due to the pressures being experienced in the NHS it is increasingly hard to release staff to attend study events and for employers to pay for attendance. Cost- and time-efficient clinical education is vital to maintaining a caring and effective pharmacy workforce.”
Delivering patient care is always the priority, but when circumstances allow, there are several ways healthcare staff can continue with their professional training and development, even while operational pressures remain.
You don’t have to attend a full day course or conference to keep up to date with clinical and professional knowledge. Bite-size learning sessions of around one hour offer a highly effective way to build skills and retain information without overwhelming. Short, focused sessions match the brain’s natural attention span, helping you stay engaged and absorb key concepts more efficiently. Because they require a smaller time commitment, these sessions fit easily into busy schedules and make it simpler to maintain consistent learning habits. One-hour modules also allow you to progress at a manageable pace, revisit material as needed, and apply new knowledge quickly, resulting in deeper understanding and better long-term retention. UKCPA webinars offer one-hour sessions and are free to members.
Many healthcare environments offer mentorship schemes, and peer mentoring can be an especially effective option when more senior members of staff are facing pressures. Peer mentoring assigns people on a similar level to become each other’s mentor and mentee, sharing experiences and reflecting on practice together to further their learning.
Peer-to-peer mentoring can occur quite naturally on shifts as staff discuss their learnings with each other, and it doesn’t rely on senior staff to be available in order for both parties to benefit.
Online webinars held during lunch breaks or work hours offer a highly convenient and cost-effective way to access professional development. By removing the need to travel to in-person educational events, these webinars save time and don’t require large budgets. Their short, focused format makes it easy for you to engage with relevant content, ask questions to experts, and gain practical insights without taking too much time away from your clinical practice.
Professional organisations, such as UKCPA, offer lunchtime or evening webinars which fit around a busy clinical schedule. UKCPA webinars are expert-led, offering you the ability to ask questions to our expert speakers. The added benefit is that they are recorded so that you can watch at your own convenience if you couldn’t attend the live version, or watch again as revision.
For employers and employees alike, these sessions provide an efficient way to stay current, build skills, and support continuous learning while keeping costs and scheduling challenges to a minimum.
Joining a professional network, such as UKCPA, will provide you with access to ongoing training and development, expert-led courses, and networking opportunities with fellow healthcare professionals.
Our extensive calendar of clinical pharmacy training sessions only last for one hour at a time, and they’re free for UKCPA members. Our events often run at lunchtimes or in the evening, so they can fit around a busy work schedule, and many are virtual, so you can attend from the comfort of your own home or breakroom, or wherever you find yourself at the time.
UKCPA membership also provides you with access to an extensive, peer-submitted resource library, where you’ll find countless helpful resources to support your CPD. You can also receive support from, ask questions and share knowledge with other healthcare professionals via our digital forum discussions.
With huge operational pressures to balance alongside conflicting priorities and personal commitments, belonging to a network helps to keep you accountable and prioritise your ongoing training and development throughout your career.
Get access to ongoing expert-led education and training opportunities when you become a member of UKCPA for less than £3 a week. Continue your professional development throughout your pharmacy career, with tailored memberships available for trainee pharmacists through to qualified pharmacists.
Attend virtual events around your busy schedule, and access our network of dedicated communities, focused on different specialisms to expand your knowledge across different areas of practice. Join UKCPA today.
Join UKCPA for less than £3 a week and access all our communities, education and resources.
