Multiple pharmacy mentions in Parliament
Community pharmacy has been referenced several times in the Houses of Parliament this week as MPs have quizzed Health Ministers on access to primary care services and pharmacy funding during two sessions.
During Health Questions on Tuesday, Warinder Juss MP (Labour) enquired about the level of patient access to primary care services. In response the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, highlighted the Government’s commitment to “boosting the role” of community pharmacies. Ruth Jones MP (Labour) raised the delay in reviewing pharmacy funding, to which Mr Kinnock indicated that he sees the conclusion of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) negotiations as “a matter of urgency”.*
As part of a Liberal Democrat-led debate on access to primary healthcare on Wednesday, there were numerous mentions of community pharmacies, including from Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP who introduced the motion. Ms Morgan spoke of her support of the idea of Pharmacy First, but at the same time her concern that pharmacies are under great strain. Highlighting the patient impact of pharmacy pressures, she cited Community Pharmacy England’s previous warnings of “systemic funding cuts” which she said had led to a “postcode lottery of access”.
In response the Minister for Secondary Care, Karin Smyth MP, recognised that more than 1,200 pharmacies have shut since 2017, and that previous Governments had “dithered and delayed” on finding a long-term funding solution for pharmacy. She re-iterated Mr Kinnock’s line that this year’s funding and contractual arrangements are being looked at as a matter of urgency.
Such recognition for community pharmacy by MPs and Ministers (also including a recent positive mention from the Prime Minister) demonstrates the sector’s hard work in briefing politicians across Parliament in recent months. Community Pharmacy England is determined to keep influencing policymakers to drive bigger, more meaningful change for the sector.
*Whilst formal negotiations on the 2024/25 CPCF have yet to recommence, Community Pharmacy England has made DHSC and NHSE aware that we are ready to get back around the negotiating table as soon as possible.
