CPE at Pharmacy Show: Pharmacy must optimise existing services before taking on more
Community Pharmacy England has called for a greater focus on getting the most from existing pharmacy services before the sector takes on further expansion at the 2026 Pharmacy Show.
In a keynote update, our Chief Executive Janet Morrison reflected on the pressures facing pharmacy businesses, the value they already deliver for patients and the NHS, and what will be needed for the sector to play an even greater role in community healthcare.
Janet emphasised the immediate priority should be to make sure the current CPCF services are fully optimised, and considering sector capacity before loading on new service developments. Janet cautioned that any further expansion – including around independent prescribing – must be matched by sufficient funding and practical support for implementation so that it is achievable for pharmacy businesses.
Read more in Janet’s blog: The future is clinical, but it must also be sustainable.
This central message was echoed across our presence at the Show as members of our team informed pharmacy owners about this year’s contractual changes and outlined work to develop a more sustainable sector that can support future ambitions.
Director of Member and LPC Support James Wood chaired a panel exploring funding stability and clinical expansion. The discussion recognised the significant progress made in pharmacy services in recent years and the sector’s important role in community healthcare, while stressing that investment is essential to support further development and provide a sustainable future.
Our funding and data experts delivered a well-attended session explaining recent pharmacy funding and margin changes and what they mean for pharmacy owners, with a follow-up session on managing finances. Negotiating the funding settlement and monitoring its delivery are critical but complex parts of our role. The session also included questions on medicines supply and price concessions, which will be explored in more detail at a webinar later this week: book your place.
Additionally, discussions on the NHS plan, neighbourhood health, and clinical services were led by our services and LPC support teams, while our regulations team demystified the regulatory landscape.
Watch our video to get a flavour of our presence across the Pharmacy Show:
Across the two days, we also welcomed pharmacy owners, pharmacy team members and others working in the sector to our exhibition stand. The hundreds of visitors heard more about our work, shared their views and had questions answered by members of the team, Committee and Chair Professor Dame Jenny Harries.
The views and experiences shared at the Show will help inform our work on behalf of pharmacy owners, ensuring that our negotiating and influencing activity continues to reflect the real situation for pharmacy businesses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us or attend our sessions at the Pharmacy Show.
