January video update from PSNC’s CEO

PSNC Chief Executive Janet Morrison has recorded a video update for community pharmacy contractors. The video looks back at some of the work and discussions with contractors that PSNC held in December, as well as looking to the year ahead.

In the run up to Christmas the pressures on community pharmacy were immense – particularly with antibiotics supply and the wider medicine pricing issues. These pressures remain going into 2023, and they must be addressed. Janet describes how PSNC has increased its influencing capacity in recent months and talks about her December meeting with the Pharmacy Minister as well as the cross-sector approach to the Health Secretary making this point.

Both the Secretary of State and the Minister were told that Government has now reached a fork in the road: they can either build on the great work of pharmacies during the pandemic by investing the sector, including in Pharmacy First, or they can let things continue as they are and in doing so force many pharmacies to collapse, impacting directly on patients. Janet emphasises how important it is that Government understands the possible implications for patients, and says PSNC will be doing everything that it can, working with the sector, to change the dial on how pharmacy is treated within primary care.

Watch the video: