Key Summary
- Dr Amanda Doyle urged stronger integration, pharmacist prescribing, and local representation
- Sector financial fragility dominated discussions, with calls for new investment and a one-year deal
- 2026 priorities: Dedicated prescribing funding, neighbourhood integration, and securing local funding opportunities
NHS England’s National Director for Primary Care and Community Services Dr Amanda Doyle has urged the community pharmacy sector to cement its role in healthcare delivery as the 10 Year Health Plan drives a shift towards preventative, patient-centred care.
While making her keynote address at the annual conference of local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) representatives last week, she termed pharmacist prescribing as a potential “game changer”, but called for greater use of automation and support staff to free up pharmacists.
Emphasising the need for pharmacists to be embedded in Neighbourhood Health Teams without stripping talent from community settings, she highlighted the importance of integration.
“Pharmacy needs a voice at the table locally. Without that, we’ll miss a trick,” she stressed, urging LPCs to facilitate representation in planning discussions and GP-pharmacy collaboration.
However, Dr Doyle also noted the sector’s financial fragility, and assured that NHS England acknowledges the issue and is committed to supporting the sector.
Community Pharmacy England CEO Janet Morrison, also called for stabilising the sector’s finances before it can fully support NHS ambitions.
However, taking note of the recent meeting with the pharmacy minister, Janet spoke of the Government’s tight spending limits, meaning tough choices ahead.
She indicated that a one-year deal is expected this time, which seems prudent given the need to continue to influence 10 Year Plan developments.
The LPC representatives discussed important topics for the coming year with speakers sharing insights on the 10 Year Health Plan, healthcare networks, and the future of community pharmacy.
The event was attended by delegates representing 49 out of the 50 LPCs in England.
Delegates examined the future of independent prescribing and explored LPC activities of direct benefit to pharmacy owners, as well as considering negotiations and potential improvements to the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).
Delegates were concerned about the affordability from within the CPCF, with 99 percent voting to agree that funding should not be from the existing global sum, but from new investment.
The delegates also put their questions to Community Pharmacy England’s Leadership Team.
The delegates overwhelmingly agreed that independent prescribing must have its own dedicated funding stream.
The conference also identified the top priorities for LPCs in 2026: negotiating local funding opportunities, supporting neighbourhood development and integration, and optimising services.
These insights will directly inform Community Pharmacy England’s works in the months ahead.
The conference was followed by a stakeholder reception to launch A Prescription for Success, with LPCs joined by NHS policy leads, health charities, think tanks, pharmacy and wider primary care professionals, and patient representatives.
The attendees heard about the key questions that must now be addressed to enable community pharmacies to help deliver the Government’s proposals for a future-fit NHS, which are centered around coordinated action to develop and support the sector.
