On the 25th November 2025, CMHP were honoured to co-chair a session during IPP week with the Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA). Pharmacy teams play a vital role in reducing mental health and learning disability health inequalities by using their accessible position, medicines expertise and person-centred communication to improve early intervention, safe treatment, and equitable access to physical and mental healthcare for people who are too often underserved.
Karen Shuker, Immediate Past President of CMHP said "Chairing this session highlighted the power of inclusive pharmacy practice. Each speaker showed how, when we prioritise equity and mental health, we deliver care that meets people’s needs—especially for those with additional vulnerabilities. The person‑focused innovation shared today was inspiring, and it was a privilege to chair such forward‑thinking work."
Simmy Daniel, East London NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy Workforce Development Lead & North East London ICS- Pharmacy Workforce Delivery Lead, Iffah Salim, Advanced CAMHS practitioner and Dr Lorena Valdearnenas (trust simulation lead) delivered a session on Mental Health Simulation Training for Pharmacy Workforce in Secondary Care
The pilot in North East London has shown that simulation-based mental health training can significantly boost the confidence, empathy and communication skills of hospital pharmacy staff caring for people with mental illness. Led by Simmy, Iffah and Lorena, the project used realistic, actor-led scenarios covering areas such as learning disabilities, suicidality, psychosis, perinatal mental health and substance misuse to address long-standing training gaps and health inequalities faced by people with serious mental illness, who typically die 15–20 years earlier than the general population. Evaluation of 29 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians found universal agreement on the value of the training, with measurable improvements in comfort, confidence and attitudes towards patient-centred mental health care, suggesting simulation could play a key role in reducing stigma, improving parity of esteem, and delivering more inclusive, consistent care across the NHS
Simmy said" This mental health pharmacy simulation training, delivered to acute and mental health pharmacy staff, has shown that improving mental health care isn’t just about clinical knowledge. It’s about building confidence, empathy, and communication skills in the pharmacy workforce, as patients with mental health needs may require care in any setting. By practicing realistic scenarios and reflecting on our approach, we can reduce stigma, enhance patient-centred care, and take practical steps toward more equitable outcomes for people with mental health conditions."
For more information please see Simmy's presentation here: Mental Health Simulation Training for Pharmacy Workforce in Secondary Care
Dr Dolly Sud, Leicestershire Physical Health Register (LPHR) Lead Postdoctoral Clinical Academic Research Fellow Pharmacist at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust delivered a session on Point of care testing for blood tests for health checks in people with learning disabilities.
The pilot project in Leicestershire and Rutland is exploring how point-of-care testing (POCT) for HbA1c and other blood tests could improve health checks for people with learning disabilities, a group that faces stark health inequalities including mortality rates two to four times higher and life expectancy 23–27 years shorter than the general population. Led by Dolly, a multidisciplinary NHS and academic team, the initiative highlights how POCT, using small, less intrusive finger-prick blood samples with immediate results, can overcome common barriers to traditional blood tests, improve access and uptake of health checks, and potentially reduce avoidable illness. The project also calls for wider research, clearer clinical guidance, better awareness among healthcare professionals, and accessible information for people with learning disabilities and their carers, arguing that wider adoption of POCT could play a key role in narrowing long-standing health gaps
Dolly said, “This work has shown that inclusive practice is not about doing something different for a few people, but about designing services that recognise and respond to difference from the outset. By listening to people with learning disabilities, adapting how and where care is delivered, and working across clinical, laboratory, and governance teams, we have improved access to essential health monitoring. The key learning is that small, well-governed adjustments can have a significant impact on experience, safety, and equity. Inclusive practice requires curiosity, flexibility, and collaboration—and when these are embedded, services work better for everyone.”
For more information see Dolly's presentation here: Point of care testing for blood tests for health checks in people with learning disabilities.
For more information about IPP Week please see NHS England » Inclusive pharmacy practice
