Welcome to Hunter Gatherer Primary Care – specialist IPP and clinical pharmacist recruitment across the UK.
We place Independent Prescribing Pharmacists into GP practices and Primary Care Networks on both a locum and permanent basis. Whether you need an experienced prescribing pharmacist to lead medicines management in your PCN or you’re a pharmacist looking for your next primary care role, we deliver fast, compliant and properly matched recruitment.
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What is an Independent Prescribing Pharmacist?
An Independent Prescribing Pharmacist (IPP) is a GPhC-registered pharmacist who has completed the independent prescribing qualification, enabling them to assess patients, make diagnoses and prescribe medications autonomously – without the need for a GP to initiate or authorise the prescription.
In primary care, IPPs are one of the most clinically valuable roles in the multidisciplinary team. They lead medication reviews, manage complex long-term conditions, run dedicated prescribing clinics and take significant pressure off GPs – all while improving patient safety and continuity of care.
From 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists in England graduate as independent prescribers as standard. This is a significant shift in the pharmacy workforce, and demand for experienced IPPs with primary care backgrounds continues to outstrip supply.
Why PCNs and Practices Choose Hunter Gatherer for IPP Recruitment:
Primary care specialists We understand PCN structures, ARRS funding rules and what practices actually need from a prescribing pharmacist. We don’t just match on GPhC registration – we match on clinical background, prescribing experience and fit with your MDT.
GPhC-verified and fully compliant Every IPP we place is verified for GPhC registration, DBS, professional indemnity, clinical references and prescribing competency before we put them forward. No gaps, no surprises.
ARRS-eligible candidates Clinical pharmacist roles in PCNs are eligible for reimbursement under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). We understand the eligibility requirements and can help you identify candidates who qualify, so your placement is properly funded.
Locum and permanent placements Urgent cover or a long-term hire – we support both. Our IPP network spans all experience levels and clinical backgrounds, giving you options whether you need someone this week or next quarter.
What IPPs Do in Primary Care:
Independent Prescribing Pharmacists in GP surgeries and PCNs work across a broad clinical and medicines management scope, including:
- Independent prescribing consultations for acute and long-term conditions
- Structured medication reviews (SMRs) – particularly for complex, high-risk or polypharmacy patients
- Long-term condition management clinics – diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, anticoagulation
- Medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge
- Deprescribing and polypharmacy optimisation in elderly and frail patients
- High-risk medicine monitoring – lithium, methotrexate, warfarin, DMARDs
- Repeat prescription management and medicines optimisation
- Support for QOF and enhanced service delivery
- Clinical audit and medicines safety reviews
- Mentoring and supervising trainee pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
IPP Clinical Specialisms We Cover:
Our prescribing pharmacist network covers a wide range of clinical interests and specialisms, including:
- Medicines Optimisation – structured medication reviews, deprescribing, polypharmacy management
- Diabetes & Endocrinology – insulin initiation, type 1 and type 2 management, GLP-1 prescribing
- Cardiovascular & Hypertension – anticoagulation, lipid management, blood pressure clinics
- Respiratory – asthma and COPD management, inhaler reviews, respiratory prescribing
- Mental Health – psychotropic medicines management, lithium monitoring, liaison with CMHT
- Frailty & Care Homes – complex older patients, falls risk medicines, end-of-life prescribing
- Anticoagulation – warfarin, DOACs, monitoring and dose adjustment
- Women’s Health – contraception, HRT, prescribing in pregnancy and post-partum
- Dermatology – prescribing for chronic skin conditions within GPwER or enhanced access services
- Remote / Telepharmacy – pharmacists able to deliver consultations and prescribing remotely
Qualifications We Look For:
Every IPP we place holds:
- Active GPhC registration with no restrictions
- Completed and recorded independent prescribing qualification (post-registration, or new-entrant IP qualification from 2026 onwards)
- Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience for primary care roles – ideally with direct GP surgery or PCN experience
- Strong medicines optimisation and clinical reasoning skills
- Valid DBS and up-to-date mandatory training
- Professional indemnity insurance appropriate to scope of practice
For senior and lead pharmacist roles, we also look for experience supervising or mentoring pharmacy colleagues within a PCN or practice setting.
ARRS Funding for Prescribing Pharmacists:
Clinical pharmacist roles in PCNs are among the most widely used ARRS-funded positions in England. For 2025/26, the maximum reimbursable ARRS amount for a Band 7–8a clinical pharmacist is £66,972 nationally (higher for inner and outer London). This covers salary, employer National Insurance and pension contributions, meaning the net cost to a PCN of employing a pharmacist through ARRS can be minimal.
Hunter Gatherer Primary Care understands the ARRS framework and can advise you on how to structure a placement to maximise your reimbursement – and which candidates meet the eligibility criteria.
Locum IPP Opportunities in Primary Care:
Locum prescribing pharmacist work in primary care offers genuine flexibility, clinical variety and competitive rates. Working across GP practices and PCNs exposes you to diverse patient populations and MDT environments – and the autonomy of IPP work in general practice is unlike most other pharmacy settings.
We have active IPP requirements across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and beyond.
IPP Pay Rates & Salaries (2025/26):
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Locum IPPs£28 – £60 per hour. Rates vary depending on prescribing scope, clinical specialism, location and urgency. London roles and specialist prescribing cover typically attract the higher end. Rates are reviewed regularly to reflect current market conditions.
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Salaried IPPs£47,810 – £66,972 annually. Most salaried IPP roles in primary care are banded at NHS AfC Band 7 or Band 8a. Band 7 runs from £47,810 to £54,710 (2025/26); Band 8a from £55,690 upwards. The ARRS maximum reimbursement of £66,972 nationally sets the practical ceiling for most PCN pharmacist salaries, though some practices supplement above this figure to attract experienced candidates. Senior and lead pharmacist positions may command more depending on scope.
Career Progression for Pharmacists in Primary Care:
Primary care offers a clear and rewarding career pathway for pharmacists:
- Band 6 – newly qualified pharmacist, developing primary care competencies
- Band 7 – clinical pharmacist with independent prescribing, autonomous consultations and medication review lead
- Band 8a – advanced practice pharmacist / lead IPP, clinical supervision and service development
- Band 8b+ – consultant pharmacist, head of medicines optimisation, ICS or strategic leadership
Many pharmacists move into primary care from community or hospital settings and find the breadth of clinical autonomy in a GP practice or PCN unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Locum work is a great way to try different settings and build primary care experience before stepping into a permanent role.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do all pharmacists qualify as independent prescribers now? From 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists in England graduate with independent prescribing as part of their initial education and training. However, for primary care roles, experience matters – practices and PCNs typically want pharmacists with demonstrable prescribing experience in a clinical setting, not just the qualification.
- Are IPP roles in PCNs funded through ARRS? Yes. Clinical pharmacist roles – including prescribing pharmacists – are one of the most established ARRS-funded positions. The ARRS maximum for a Band 7–8a pharmacist in 2025/26 is £66,972 nationally. We can advise on eligibility and help you maximise your reimbursement.
- Can you provide short-notice locum IPP cover? Yes. Once an IPP is registered and compliant with us, we can mobilise quickly for urgent cover. Contact us directly for short-notice requirements and we’ll respond the same day where possible.
- Do you place pharmacists without independent prescribing as well? Yes. We place clinical pharmacists at all levels – from Band 6 non-prescribing clinical pharmacists through to Band 8a lead IPPs. If your practice needs pharmacy support that doesn’t require full independent prescribing, we can find the right candidate for that too.
- What areas do you cover? We place prescribing pharmacists across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and beyond.
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