MPs say “Pharmacy funding must match words”
Community pharmacies received strong backing in Parliament today, with multiple MPs speaking out in support of what pharmacies do for their local communities. MPs welcomed the new funding settlement, but also warned of the economic peril that community pharmacies are still in.
The Westminster Hall debate, sponsored by Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, considered the Future of Community Pharmacy.
Ahead of the debate, Community Pharmacy England briefed MPs extensively on the CPCF settlement and the need for further investment and support for pharmacies. Almost 250 MPs received a briefing note, with a further smaller group receiving additional tailored constituency briefings and other information – much of which was referenced in the debate.
In her opening remarks Ms Gilmour said the 2026/27 settlement was a “positive move”, but that there was clearly further to go. She spoke passionately about the “fragile system” at breaking point and the challenges of the “volatile medicine supply”.
Ms Gilmour went on to say that the Government’s NHS strategy to provide care closer to home “cannot be delivered without the pharmacy network”, calling on the Government to ensure the sector receives above inflation uplifts to close the funding gap, tackle the workforce crisis, and build closer integration with the wider NHS.
Chair of the All Party Pharmacy Group, Sadik al-Hasan MP, expressed thanks for the work that had gone into the settlement, but noted that he saw it as “a down payment on a brighter future. It is just a start, not an end point.” He went on to talk about the potential community pharmacy has to play a much broader role across acute care.
Opposition Health Spokesperson, Dr Luke Evans MP wanted to “celebrate community pharmacy [as] the front door to the NHS”. However, he also spoke of the “critical position” of the sector amid mounting pressure, including the additional costs from increases to employer contributions, national living wage and business rate rises. Dr Evans also referenced headline findings from this year’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey conducted by Community Pharmacy England and due to be published later this month.
MPs echoed our concerns about the very difficult position that pharmacy businesses across the country are still in:
- Julie Minns MP said: “55% of pharmacy staff experience abuse, often triggered by medicine shortages, prescription delays, long queues and other issues entirely outside of their control.”
- Andrew George MP, member of the Health Select Committee said: “It is notable that Community Pharmacy England, despite the extra investment, has said that many community pharmacies will remain in financial peril.”
- James Naish MP reiterated CPE’s position that we are “not persuaded that sufficient investment is being made to enable the full and effective introduction of independent prescribing.”
Pharmacy Minister Stephen Kinnock responded saying this Government has sought to tackle the decades of underfunding across the sector. He paid tribute to pharmacists and their work in communities across the country. He said community pharmacies are a massive untapped resource. He committed to “go further” and to long term reform saying he was grateful for Community Pharmacy England’s constructive approach to the negotiations. He said he was looking forward to meeting with Community Pharmacy England again shortly to take the reform programme forward.
The following clip is from the Westminster Hall Debate on Community Pharmacies that took place on 2nd June 2026.
Read the transcript of the session or watch the full video HERE.
Zoe Long, Director of Communications, Corporate and Public Affairs at Community Pharmacy England, said:
“Politicians from all parties have today highlighted the hugely challenging and complex situation facing community pharmacy owners and their teams. Whilst the funding settlement is a step in the right direction, the sector is still facing huge hurdles just to keep the doors open, with demand for healthcare and services continuing to grow. We will continue to work with all MPs, and wider stakeholders, to keep up the pressure for the investment and support that community pharmacies still need. We look forward to working with Minister Kinnock and DHSC to begin the discussions on reform soon, and hope that pharmacy owners will contribute to this important work via our upcoming Regional Roadshow events.”
Support our influencing work
Community Pharmacy England’s political influencing and campaigning activity continues following the announcement of the 2026/27 CPCF settlement. We’re working to gain wide and vocal support to improve medicines supply resilience, prevent pharmacies from having to dispense at a loss, and for further investment to support Independent Prescribing. MPs and other stakeholders are also being asked to help press for the long-term sustainable solution that community pharmacies need.
In addition to MPs, since the funding announcement we have briefed 71 wider advocates from across think tanks, patient groups and charities.
Resources to help explain the settlement and the next steps for the sector are now available for pharmacy owners and LPCs to use in their own local engagement, helping to ensure consistent and impactful messaging with external audiences such as MPs.
Further support, including guidance on writing to your MP, is available on our Engaging with local politicians webpage.
