Policy groups discuss value of investing in pharmacy, following 10-Year Health Plan

Community Pharmacy England earlier this week hosted a high-level policy discussion in Westminster on the value and potential of investing in community pharmacy, following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Healthwatch England, the national patient representative body, presented their latest report on public perceptions of community pharmacy, including high public satisfaction with Pharmacy First.

And Community Pharmacy England shared data from the economic work we have been doing as part of our input into Government Spending Review processes. This shows the incredible value that investing in pharmacy further would bring to patients, the NHS and wider society.

Community pharmacies could play a very significant role in delivering the ‘three shifts’ in the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, if the sector is put on a stable financial and operational footing.

The roundtable event in Westminster, hosted by Steve Race, MP for Exeter and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Pharmacy, was part of Community Pharmacy England’s ongoing work to ensure the sector’s future sustainability following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Upcoming influencing and policy work will build on some of the outputs of the discussion, which covered a range of topics including the pressures on community pharmacies, and the implementation of the 10-Year Health Plan and complexities of commissioning and primary care integration.

Economic modelling, which has been shared with Government and the NHS, shows how much value making further investments in community pharmacy would bring to the public, patients and the NHS.

Pharmacy owners and LPCs can help share these important findings with our new animation.

We also have an updated MP briefing available: Realising pharmacy’s potential MP briefing

Additionally, we have the summary briefing on the Economic Analysis, aimed at Parliamentarians and wider policy stakeholders, which pharmacy owners and LPCs may also find useful: Summary Briefing: Economic Analysis of NHS Pharmaceutical Services in England

Community Pharmacy England will continue to build support for community pharmacy across all political parties, as well as think tanks, patient groups and others who influence Government policy, as part of our ongoing influencing programme. Our next Parliamentary event is scheduled for September, where we’ll be inviting MPs to drop in to talk about community pharmacy issues and receive updated constituency-specific information.

Janet Morrison, CEO at Community Pharmacy England, said:

“It is critical that we continue to work with other voices across the NHS, policy world and Parliament, not only to showcase the value and potential of community pharmacy, but also to continue to press for solutions to the ongoing intolerable pressures on the sector. We’re very grateful to Steve Race MP and all others who supported this effort in the lead up to the 10-Year Health Plan – the plan marks the beginning of a further journey, and we will be continuing our dialogue with policymakers and our wider influencing programme as the Government seeks to implement this transformation of the NHS.”