Pharmacists working in general practice in England under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) are entitled to the agreed Agenda for Change (AfC) 3.6% pay rise for 2025/26, the government has confirmed.

GPs employed under the same scheme are entitled to the 4% uplift recommended by the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) and accepted by the government yesterday.

A government spokesperson said: 'We're uplifting maximum reimbursable rates for all ARRS staff in line with pay review body recommendations.

Related Article: Low-carbon COPD inhaler approved by MHRA

'For the first time this year, GPs are now part of the ARRS scheme and are therefore in scope of Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) award, so will be eligible for the uplift of 4% - a further sign of the government's commitment to fixing the front door of the NHS.'

The government confirmed to The Pharmacist that maximum reimbursable rates for ARRS roles other than GPs would be uplifted in line with the AfC NHS Pay Review Body recommendation of 3.6%.

However, it has not been confirmed if there will be any extra funding for primary care networks (PCNs) to meet these costs. Previously PCNs have had to fund any AfC uplifts from their existing budgets.

Separately, The Pharmacist understands that GP practices will receive an uplift to the pay element of the GP contract to allow a 4% pay rise for all salaried practice staff, including pharmacists, for 2025/26.

Related Article: Practice pharmacist numbers drop slightly, latest data shows

Announcing that the government had accepted recommendations of both review bodies on Thursday, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting, said the awards were ‘thoroughly deserved pay rises’ for health professionals.

‘We inherited a broken health service with extremely low morale after years of pay erosion and poor industrial relations,’ he said.

‘Which is why, despite the difficult financial situation the nation faces, we are backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises for the second year in a row.’

Related Article: Nystan oral suspension discontinued

Earlier this week it was revealed that more than a third (37%) of GP practices in England are considering or have already started replacing non-GP ARRS staff with GPs.

President of the Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA) Dr Graham Stretch said the situation was ‘unsettling’ for pharmacists employed under the ARRS, and encouraged peers to be ‘as visible and as effective in practice as possible’ to help protect their roles.