Health minister Zubir Ahmed announced in the Parliament on Thursday (12) that the government will shortly consult with Community Pharmacy England on the contractual framework for next year.
The minister said this while making a statement on the withholding of Pharmacy First payments to pharmacies, an issue raised by Dr Luke Evans, a Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth.
Ahmed pointed out that pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they meet certain requirements.
"We agreed to reduce the claim window, in conjunction with Community Pharmacy England, as part of our deal for 2025-26 to introduce a new Pharmacy First fixed first payment of £500.
"That has supported a broader range of pharmacies and has meant that more pharmacies have become eligible for payments.
"We are in discussions with Community Pharmacy England to consider where improvements to the claiming process can be made, address concerns raised by contractors and aim for a more consistent approach to remuneration."
As for contractors being suspended from providing Pharmacy First, the minister said, "When concerns are raised, NHS England can suspend individual contractors from providing the service pending a full investigation. There are a number of reasons why that might be necessary, but the measures are there, first and foremost, as the House will appreciate, to protect patient safety."
Earlier, Evans quoted the chair of the National Pharmacy Association, Olivier Picard, “The work was done. Patients were treated. The NHS benefited. Yet payments are being withheld on a technicality.”
Evans said that many pharmacies do not even realise that some of the money is missing.
He wanted the minister to tell the House how many pharmacies the Government think are impacted, and the total value of the outstanding payments?
"What steps are the Government taking to rectify this, and would they consider a late payment mechanism to help solve the issue?"
Conservative MP from South West Hertfordshire Gagan Mohindra said that pharmacies in his constituency are under unsustainable pressure from rising costs, especially following the Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions.
"Pharmacy First was a great Conservative initiative to reduce pressure on our GPs. Why are this Government hurting pharmacies and patients by delaying payments?"
The minister termed Pharmacy First as "great initiative", but said it was not the first in this country.
"When we came into office, we worked with the sector and stakeholders, and agreements on remuneration and pricing were reached in conjunction with the sector. What is more, we are addressing the pricing structures and payment mechanisms that are not working and need improvement with a dynamism that was lacking under the previous Government."
Another Conservative MP from Spelthorne, Lincoln Jopp said that pharmacies are not getting the referrals that they should from GPs.
The minister said, "We need to unblock the referral pathways. The neighbourhood health service is all about ensuring that the process between general practitioner and pharmacist feels seamless."
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire said the pressure on pharmacists is getting worse, as shown by closures.
Citing examples from her own constituency, she said, "The closures hit hardest in rural and coastal areas and in the most deprived areas, where they are most needed. This vital service needs to be supported and not undermined so that our constituents can rely on being able to access the medicines and treatment they need."
Ahmed assured Morgan that Care minister Stephen Kinnock is exploring all avenues to ensure equity of access and funding.
