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Keith Ridge

Dr Keith Ridge CBE is the former chief pharmaceutical officer for England

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Opinion: One primary care contract for all?

Is having a single primary care contract for GPs and pharmacists a pipe dream or a realistic ambition? Former chief pharmaceutical officer for England, Keith Ridge, ponders the question…

18 Feb 2026 , 3 Min Article

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Ex-CPhO Keith Ridge appointed non-exec director of NICE

Dr Keith Ridge has been appointed as a non-executive director of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for four years, with effect from 1 July.

01 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Prescribing: Time to get serious

A paper on the expansion of pharmacist prescribing from Bruce Warner and colleagues from the University of Nottingham is both timely and important, says Keith Ridge, former England CPhO.

27 Jan 2025 , 4 Min Article

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Opinion: Pharmacy is in a much better place. Really.

The new Government is trying to repair a ‘broken’ NHS and Lord Darzi has been brought back into the fold to advise Labour ministers for a second time. I was there when he did his first review in 2007, says Keith Ridge, former chief pharmacist for England. So what’s changed?

17 Oct 2024 , 4 Min Article

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Long read: Time to bite the CPPE bullet – some facts, history and proposals

It is great to see the work on reform of professional leadership in pharmacy finally starting its delivery phase. The appointments to the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board should get the show properly on the road, says Keith Ridge, former chief pharmaceutical officer for England.

13 May 2024 , 7 Min Article

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Long read: Why does the NHS need all these extra staff?

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out a huge expansion in personnel – up from 1.4 million to 2.4 million by 2036, making it roughly the size of the population of Birmingham, says Keith Ridge, former chief pharmaceutical officer for England.

11 Aug 2023 , 10 Min Article

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Opinion: Pharmacy needs to clear the decks

Back in the 17th century, sailors would remove from the deck of their ship anything that could hinder success in a forthcoming battle. For pharmacy, clearing the decks is definitely just as pertinent, says Keith Ridge, former chief pharmaceutical officer for England.

01 Aug 2023 , 5 Min Article

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Opinion: Professional revolution or damp squib?

In a recent blog for the King’s Fund, Keith Ridge, former chief pharmaceutical officer for England, outlines how pharmacist prescribing could revolutionise patient care but fears that the move may fail without proper strategic planning by the NHS.

15 May 2023 , 1 Min Article

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Ridge calls for review of RPS progress on founding ambitions

Society needs to guard against being too inward looking, warns former CPhO.

12 Apr 2022 , 1 Min Article

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Wanted: An enduring and confident professional leadership body

Former CPhO Keith Ridge explains why he believes Royal College status matters.

01 Apr 2022 , 5 Min Article

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Keith Ridge: For the RPS, it really is now or never

Exclusive: Proposals to restructure the RPS executive could damage the profession, the former CPhO writes.

10 Mar 2022 , 1 Min Article

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RPS proposals could weaken the profession, warns Ridge

Axing the education director role could threaten the gains made by the profession, says Keith Ridge.

10 Mar 2022 , 1 Min Article

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Ridge review finds 10pc of all prescribed medicines unnecessary

CPhO calls for more openness and greater use of social prescribing to prevent medicines harm.

22 Sep 2021 , 2 Min Article

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Keith Ridge to retire as chief pharmacist after 16 years

NHS England recruits for a new CPhO as Ridge retirement announced for February.

30 Jul 2021 , 1 Min Article

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Contractor survey 'will inform NHS investment decisions'

HEE is calling on community pharmacy contractors to complete a workforce survey it says will help to inform decisions on planning and investment. 

10 May 2021 , 1 Min Article

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Will national plan ensure pharmacy practice is truly inclusive?

Can the new Joint National Plan for Inclusive Pharmacy Practice really keep the promises it makes, asks Sasa Jankovic.

21 Apr 2021 , 2 Min Article

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