Numark chairman Professor Harry McQuillan has said the CPCF settlement shows that the government has listened to some of the concerns of community pharmacy and is committed to strengthening the sector.
"For the second consecutive year, the government has given pharmacy a negotiated funding uplift higher than other sectors of primary care and above the overall NHS increase. In a challenging economic climate, that recognition matters.
"The 10.3 percent increase in negotiated funding, taking the CPCF settlement to £3.636 billion, including the uplift to retained margin and alongside the welcome write-off of up to £239 million in historic margin recovery, demonstrates that the Westminster government has at least listened to some of the needs and concerns of community pharmacy.
"The counter to that is that the majority of the increased level of retained margin is already in the system from 2025/26, so the network will not feel an immediate cash flow benefit.
"Equally important is the clear commitment from Government and NHS England to work collaboratively with Community Pharmacy England on a programme of reform that looks beyond short-term pressures and towards building a stronger, more clinically integrated future for the sector.
"The decision to combine the CPCF and Primary Care Recovery Fund into a single funding pot also signals a more joined-up approach to the future of community pharmacy funding and service delivery."
'A lifeline over headline'
The NPA-nominated representatives to Community Pharmacy England (CPE), Sukhi Basra and Mike Hewitson, said the CPCF settlement does provide some immediate relief but more needs to be done to offset years of underinvestment.
In a LinkedIn post, they said, "This settlement does not solve the funding crisis facing community pharmacy. The contract remains broken and the system that produced it needs urgent reform.
"We say that as working contractors ourselves, we face these same pressures every day.
"The sector still needs sustainable long-term funding. One agreement cannot resolve years of underinvestment. But this settlement delivers immediate support worth around £33,000 per pharmacy, support that contractors need now, not in months.
"It also provides £340 million in new funding, and a 20 percent increase in the Single Activity Fee since 2024/25.
"The £239 million in historic clawbacks have been cancelled. Pharmacies will not be pursued for money they no longer owe.
"We chose a lifeline over a headline. The reforms forum is where the structural fight continues. We will not stop until this sector is properly funded."
