A reported 50 ministers met with representatives from Community Pharmacy England (CPE) at the house of parliament on Tuesday (11) to discus the future of the sector.
Those in attendance voiced their support for community pharmacy on social media, with many signing a cross-party letter urging the Secretary of State to address the sector’s challenges so it can help meet the Government’s wider objectives for the NHS.
They were involved in a discussion on the vital role community pharmacies play in local communities but how pressures related issues such funding and medicine shortages were putting a strain on pharmacists.
During the busy Westminster event MPs learnt of the impact that pharmacies are having locally through dispensing, Pharmacy First, vaccinations and other services.
Supported by pharmacy owners and LPC representatives, the CPE team talked to MPs about what needs to be done to stabilise community pharmacy and how to better utilise the untapped clinical potential of the sector.
All MP attendees were provided with personalised briefings containing data on the prescriptions dispensed, services delivered, and pharmacy closures in their constituencies.
This drop-in event was part of CPE’s long-term strategic influencing programme, which is building parliamentary and wider support for community pharmacy.
The organisation aims to host briefing events like this every six months to ensure that MPs have access to the latest local data and information on an ongoing basis.
Pharmacy owners and LPCs can support this work using the guidance and resources available in the engaging with MPs section of the CPE website or by contacting comms.team@cpe.org.uk
Harry McQuillan, Chairman of Numark