Negotiation Updates

23rd December – January 2025 Category M prices announced
The Drug Tariff Category M pricelist for January 2025 is published, reducing reimbursement prices, despite opposition from Community Pharmacy England.

20th December – Our response to the DHSC announcement on General Practice investment and changes for 2025/26
Community Pharmacy England responds to news of investment into, and changes for, General Practice for the financial year 2025/26.

19th December – Health Secretary pledges to take ‘enormous’ pharmacy pressures into account
Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP appears before the Health and Social Care Select Committee in Parliament to answer questions related to his brief.

18th December – MPs call for increased funding for community pharmacies
Twenty MPs from all three major parties take part in a parliamentary debate calling for government investment and support for community pharmacies.

6th December – MPs call for increased support for pharmacies, following autumn budget
In a debate in Parliament, MPs raise their concerns about the impact of the 2024 Budget on community pharmacies.

4th December – CPCF Negotiations Update: A message from our CEO
Our CEO gives a video update on the CPCF negotiations, addressing the prolonged pause that means the sector is still without an agreement for 2024/25.

4th December – Inject funding now to prevent collapse, CPE tells Ministers
Community Pharmacy England writes to Ministers urging them to provide immediate funding relief to community pharmacies and warns that without this, pharmacy closures will continue.

29th November – Budget to cost pharmacies £200 million without mitigation, pharmacy bodies warn
We joined with other national pharmacy bodies to write to the Health Secretary, urging the Government to shield community pharmacies from the planned increases in NI contributions and the National Living Wage.

13th November – Autumn Budget: Community Pharmacy England’s Push for Mitigations
Since the Autumn Budget, we have been working to ensure that the impact of the announced changes on community pharmacies is fully understood by Government.

13th November – Parliamentarians urge Government action to support community pharmacies in letter to Health Secretary
Supported by Community Pharmacy England, 20 parliamentarians sign a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, calling for urgent government action to safeguard the future of community pharmacies.

29th October – Pharmacies in England provide nearly 70 million unfunded consultations a year
More than 1.3 million unfunded consultations a week – or just over 69 million a year – are now being carried out by community pharmacy teams in England, according to our 2024 Pharmacy Advice Audit.

19th October – Critical staffing pressures in Community Pharmacies hitting patients
Pharmacy owners and team members across England paint a vivid picture of the severe consequences caused by staffing shortages, underfunding, and escalating workload pressures in community pharmacies.

14th October – Pharmacy First: Further changes to monthly targets
Ministers decide to amend the Pharmacy First thresholds for the rest of the year, in light of the concerns that we have raised.

30th September – Change to October Pharmacy First monthly threshold
Ministers decide to reduce the October threshold for the Pharmacy First service to 20, in light of the concerns that we have raised.

23rd September – Pharmacy Minister speaks at Community Pharmacy England event
We were delighted that the panel of speakers at our Labour Party Conference event (in partnership with Reform think tank) included the Pharmacy Minister, Stephen Kinnock MP.

20th September – CPCF and Spending Review outlook discussed at September Committee Meeting
The Committee reviews early engagement with the new Government, alongside the outlook for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) negotiations for 2024/25.

12th September – MPs back pharmacies at Parliamentary drop-in event
We met with 45 MPs and parliamentary staff at the Houses of Parliament to discuss the critical pressures on community pharmacies and their important role in local healthcare.

4th September – Community Pharmacy England sets out position to Ministerial Team
Our CEO meets with Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock. During the meeting we underline the urgent need for a funding uplift, as well as outlining pharmacies’ potential to do more to support the health of local communities.

25th August – Nearly a sixth of pharmacies could close within a year, Pressures Survey indicate
We release a a national report confirming the severe financial pressures putting community pharmacies at risk of closure, threatening patient care and access to services across England.

30th July – Change to August Pharmacy First monthly threshold
Ministers decide to adjust the August threshold for the Pharmacy First service to 15 in the light of the concerns that we have raised.

26th July – CPCF Negotiations: Update in light of new Government
We provide an update on negotiations now that the new Government is in place, which explains that discussions are not expected to resume before September.

19th July – Approach with new Government and strategic planning considered at June Committee Meeting
The Committee reconsiders the immediate priorities for the new Government, alongside wider strategic planning, when members meet in Birmingham.

2nd July – Pharmacy First Update: A message from our CEO
Our CEO gives a video update on Pharmacy First, addressing some of the concerns that pharmacy owners have, particularly around the thresholds for monthly payments.

17th June – Chief Executive’s Blog: June 2024
Half-way through the general election campaign, our CEO reflects on preparations for the next Government.

3rd June – CPCF negotiations during the election period
We issue a clarification on the 2024/25 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) negotiations.

21st May – Peers briefed on 2024 Pharmacy Pressures
Community Pharmacy England briefs Peers on the severe challenges facing community pharmacies, including the findings of the 2024 Pressures Survey.

9th May – Medicines supply issues are a daily battle, Pressures Survey confirms

We release a national report confirming the severe impact of the worsening medicines supply situation on patients and community pharmacies across England.

22nd April – Intolerable pressures on pharmacy owners and current negotiations discussed at April Committee Meeting

Our Committee discusses critical matters such as the severity of pressures on the sector, ongoing CPCF negotiations, implementation of Pharmacy First, and governance matters at their April meeting.

8th April – MPs demand more support for pharmacies from Minister
In a letter we coordinated, MPs from across the political spectrum call on the Health Secretary to address the acute funding crisis facing community pharmacies.

28th March – Chief Executive’s Blog: April 2024
Our CEO reflects on what comes after the five-year CPCF deal ends.

28th March – Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework: Negotiations for 2024/25
We clarify that, until the 2024/25 CPCF negotiations have concluded, fee levels will remain the same and existing service arrangements will continue as previously announced.

28th March – Community Pharmacy England writes to Select Committee Chair
Our Chief Executive Janet Morrison contacts the chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Steve Brine MP following the Committee’s latest pharmacy inquiry session.

28th March – Government imposes Drug Tariff changes to manage margin
DHSC announces it will impose changes to their approach to concessions pricing in the April Drug Tariff.

13th March – MPs back pharmacy at Pharmacy First showcase event
Community Pharmacy England and other national pharmacy bodies brief 25 Parliamentarians and their teams about the new Pharmacy First service at an event in the Houses of Parliament.

11th March – Top-up system for concession prices to be introduced from April 2024
A retrospective top-up payment system for price concession lines is announced as starting from April 2024.

8th March – Changes to Category A price setting process
DHSC announces it will impose new arrangements for the setting of Drug Tariff Category A reimbursement prices from April 2024.

6th March – Spring budget sets out NHS plans but brings no sign of relief for pharmacies
The Chancellor announces his Spring Budget, but it contains no relief for community pharmacies. Our ramped up influencing activities are continue ahead of this year’s likely General Election.

29th February – DHSC imposes Flat Fee removal from March 2024
DHSC announces it will impose a Flat Fee cut on pharmacy owners for March 2024.

23rd February – Negotiations on 2024/25 Contractual Framework Commence
Formal tripartite negotiations on the arrangements for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) in 2024/25 – the first year following the five-year CPCF deal – begin.

19th February – Medicines supply will fail if pharmacies cannot keep lights on, warns Community Pharmacy England
At a Health Committee evidence session, we warn that patients will continue to face problems accessing medicines unless Government eases supply problems and resolves the critical financial state of pharmacies.

15th February – Conservative MPs briefed on prevention role for sector
We brief Conservative MPs on the unlocked potential of community pharmacies to help with prevention and tackling the burden of long-term conditions, if the pressures on the sector are eased.

6th February – Margin, pressures, upcoming negotiations and governance on Community Pharmacy England January Agenda
Our Committee focusses on the upcoming CPCF negotiations, margin, and strategy at their January meeting.

16th January – Chief Executive’s Blog: January 2024
Our CEO provides an update on the negotiations for what the CPCF will look like after April 2024.

7th December – Community Pharmacy England briefs new Pharmacy Minister
Our CEO meets with the new Pharmacy Minister, raising a range of critical topics, including Pharmacy First, funding and other pressures on community pharmacies, the future of pharmacy services, and IT/digital interfaces.

5th December – 30+ MPs attend Community Pharmacy England’s winter pressures event
We briefed 34 MPs on how winter pressures are impacting on pharmacies at a drop-in event at the Houses of Parliament.

1st December – Committee negotiating asks discussions informed by pharmacy owners at November Meeting
Our Committee discusses the implementation of Pharmacy First and their core asks for the future CPCF at their November meeting.

16th November – Pharmacy First service and other changes agreed as Recovery Plan negotiations conclude
We reached agreement with Government and the NHS on the launch of a new national Pharmacy First service as well as other changes to pharmacy funding and services.

6th November – Primary Care Access Recovery Plan negotiations
Our CEO issues a short statement on the Recovery Plan and future CPCF negotiations.

28th September – Committee strategy discussions informed by pharmacy owners
Our Committee discusses responses to the Primary Care Access Recovery Plan negotiations, and preparations for the next CPCF negotiations at their September meeting.

4th September – Chief Executive’s Blog: September 2023
Our CEO issues a blog describing how we remain totally focussed on making life easier for pharmacy businesses, fighting hard to get around some of the many obstacles and continuing our influencing work.

19th July – Committee hears directly from pharmacy owners and LPCs at July Meeting
Our Committee considers pharmacy pressures and the ongoing Primary Care Access Plan negotiations, with valuable input from sector polls and LPC leaders, at their July meeting.

3rd July – Our CEO updates on the negotiations
Our CEO releases a statement explaining that the negotiating process remains on track as we’re presently working at pace with key stakeholders from the NHS and DHSC.

9th June – MPs and Peers keep spotlight on pharmacy
MPs and Peers continue to discuss community pharmacy matters in Westminster, with pharmacy to be the subject of a new inquiry by cross-party MPs.

30th May – Watch a recording of our recent funding and negotiations update
A recording of a webinar for community pharmacy owners about the Government’s Primary Care Access Plan.

12th May – DHSC and NHS England contractor letter published
DHSC and NHS England publish a letter to community pharmacy owners updating them on the CPCF arrangements.

9th May – Government pledges £645m investment in community pharmacy
Government and NHS promise a £645m investment in community pharmacies over the next two years to support a common conditions service, along with the Pharmacy Contraception and Hypertension Case-Finding services.

27th April – CPCF 2023/24 and Regulations: Imposed changes
DHSC lay regulations affecting community pharmacy contractors as well as indicating the Government’s decisions on the CPCF for 2023/24.

13th April – NHSE announces contraception service launch
NHS England announces the Pharmacy Contraception Service will launch from 24th April 2023. This start date for the service has not been agreed with Community Pharmacy England.

15th March – Budget brings VAT changes but no wider relief for community pharmacy
The Chancellor unveils his Spring Budget, including within it two VAT changes related to community pharmacy services, which we had been pressing for over several years and was a focus within our CPCF negotiations.

13th March – Year 5 CPCF services cannot go ahead without funding uplift
Community Pharmacy England tells Ministers that NHS England and DHSC must not roll out any new or expanded services or a Pharmacy Quality Scheme in 2023/24 unless extra funding is put into community pharmacies.

17th February – Pharmacy Funding Crisis: Community Pharmacy England Update
At its February meeting, our Committee considers the urgent funding and capacity crisis, as well as proposals from DHSC and NHS England on price concessions reform and relief measures to ease pressure on pharmacies.

23rd January – DHSC to remove Transitional Payments from February
DHSC decides to reduce the Transitional Payment to zero from February 2023. Our Negotiating Team refuses to accept this as any reductions in payments will be impossible for pharmacy contractors to manage financially.

18th January – Community pharmacy bodies launch joint influencing campaign
Leading national pharmacy bodies agree to work together on a programme of activities to lobby for fair NHS funding for pharmacies in England, including co-ordinating efforts to mobilise public support.

23rd December – Pharmacy leaders join forces to write to the Secretary of State
Community Pharmacy England and the other community pharmacy national representative bodies, along with the four largest pharmacy chains in England, wrote to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, warning that the sector needs urgent investment.

1st December – Protecting Pharmacy Funding: A video update from Community Pharmacy England’s CEO
Community Pharmacy England Chief Executive Janet Morrison releases a video update for community pharmacy contractors following Community Pharmacy England’s November Committee meeting.

14th November – Community Pharmacy England launches new political influencing campaign
Community Pharmacy England launches a new influencing campaign to build wider political support for community pharmacies and ensure that MPs and Peers across Parliament understand the risks to pharmacy services that the current pressures on the sector are causing.

3rd November – Community Pharmacy England CEO briefs MPs on sector challenges and opportunities
Community Pharmacy England Chief Executive Janet Morrison OBE takes part in a briefing session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy, in Westminster Hall.

22nd September – CPCF arrangements for 2022/23 and 2023/24 agreed
Community Pharmacy England, DHSC and NHS England agree arrangements for Years 4 and 5 of the CPCF. Whilst in line with the five-year CPCF deal, it includes an extension of the Transitional Payment to recognise ongoing pressures and a one-off £100 million excess margin write-off for contractors.

4th August – CPCF Negotiations Update
Community Pharmacy England issues an update explaining that whilst a deal has been agreed for Year 4, changes in Government Ministers have delayed the usual sign-off process.

6th July – MPs raise concerns about the future of pharmacies
Community Pharmacy England co-hosts a Future of Pharmacy event in Westminster to highlight the significant contribution of pharmacies to the health of the nation and their potential to do more to address ongoing healthcare challenges.

26th June – Pharmacies in England provide 65 million consultations a year
Community Pharmacy England’s 2022 Pharmacy Advice Audit finds more than 1.2 million consultations a week – or 65 million a year – are now being carried out by community pharmacy teams in England.

22nd June – MPs call out unsustainable pressures on pharmacies
MPs from across the political spectrum call for increased funding for community pharmacy. This follows work by Community Pharmacy England and LPCs to brief Parliamentarians on the financial pressures facing the sector.

5th May – Pharmacy rebalancing orders: Governance changes taken forward
DHSC publishes plans to amend current pharmacy legislation on dispensing errors and clarify how registered pharmacies are governed.

25th April – Pharmacy Pressures Survey confirms impact on teams, businesses and patients
Community Pharmacy England’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey confirms that the unsustainable pressures on community pharmacies are having a serious impact on pharmacy teams’ wellbeing, affecting patient services negatively, and putting businesses at risk.

5th April – Extension to Hep C testing service agreed
NHSE&I, DHSC and Community Pharmacy England agree that the Community Pharmacy Hepatitis C Antibody Testing Service (Advanced service) should continue to be commissioned for a further year.

25th February – Negotiations on CPCF arrangements for 2022/23 commence
Formal tripartite negotiations begin on the arrangements for the CPCF in 2022/23 – the fourth year of the agreed five-year CPCF deal.

28th January – First Annual Review of CPCF paves way for year 4 negotiations
The first Annual Review of the progress of the five-year CPCF deal concludes. The review involved some very robust discussions: some significant differences in opinion emerged, but there were also areas of alignment.