CPE and primary care professions host joint parliamentary event

Yesterday, Community Pharmacy England joined with the British Dental Association, British Medical Association, Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee and the Association for Primary Care Audiology Providers, to host a ‘Future of Primary Care’ Parliamentary drop-in event.

The event, sponsored by pharmacy APPG Chair, Steve Race MP, was well attended with 40 MPs and their staff present on the day.

At the event, all five primary care sectors presented a united voice, and talked through a joint primary care briefing, complete with shared mutual objectives. Our 5 key asks of Government were:

• Make primary care central to the NHS 10-year plan
• Increase the share of NHS funding allocated to primary care in the spending review
• Use the existing primary care network to deliver more services
• Improve the digital link-up between primary care providers by granting read-write access to patient records for all primary care professionals
• Allow primary care representatives to have a bigger role in co-designing future healthcare delivery

MPs had the opportunity to learn more about primary care services and the professionals who provide them, as well as how they could help their constituents in ensuring a long-term sustainable future for the primary care sector.

Many MPs also chose to sign a cross-party joint letter to the health secretary which urged the government to work closely with the primary care bodies to “begin the long-term process to rebuild primary care and help deliver on the Government’s priorities”.

Zoe Long, Director of Communications, Corporate and Public Affairs said:

“It was fantastic to see so many MPs at our parliamentary event. Our five sectors form the backbone of the NHS, acting as the first port of call for the nation on healthcare matters.

They also act as both a triage and safety net system for hospitals and specialist care; effectively advising, treating and reassuring millions of people and patients every day.

We all hope the Government will register the strength of parliamentary support in favour of their plan to shift care from hospital to the community and the need for an expanded and fully funded primary care service to be at the centre of this.”

The full list of MPs who attended is below:

Mr Shockat Adam MP

Sadik al-Hassan MP

Ms Jess Brown-Fuller MP

Mr David Burton-Sampson MP

Mr Lewis Cocking MP (researcher)

Ben Coleman MP

Ms Pam Cox MP

Neil Coyle MP

Mr Jonathan Davies MP

Ms Sarah Dyke MP

Dr Luke Evans MP

Mr Josh Fenton-Glynn MP

Ms Mary Kelly Foy MP

Ms Zöe Franklin MP

Mr Fabian Hamilton MP (researcher)

Dr Rupa Huq MP

Ms Jayne Kirkham MP

Mr Noah Law MP

Ms Helen Maguire MP

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP

Ms Helen Morgan MP

Mr Joe Morris MP

Margaret Mullane MP

Mr Luke Murphy MP (researcher)

Toby Perkins MP

Dr Peter Prinsley MP

Ms Yasmin Qureshi MP

Steve Race MP

Mr Joe Robertson MP

Ms Lisa Smart MP (researcher)

Mr Greg Smith MP

Jeff Smith MP (researcher)

Mr Patrick Spencer MP (researcher)

Mr Will Stone MP

Dr Lauren Sullivan MP

Dr Peter Swallow MP

Mr Robin Swann MP

Mr Steve Yemm MP

Ms Claire Young MP