Following the results of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, and the English local council elections on 7th May, Numark chairman Professor Harry McQuillan has welcomed the incoming devolved and local governments and looks forward to their new ideas and perspectives.
"Whatever the political complexion of the new administrations, the direction of travel for healthcare, and for community pharmacy in particular, remains clear. Across all four nations, the strategic imperative is the same: care must become more local, more preventative, and more integrated. Community pharmacy is not on the periphery of that ambition; it sits at its very heart," he said.
The Numark chairman said that in Scotland the progress made through recent contractual agreements, including a four per cent uplift in the global sum for community pharmacy in 2025‑26 and guaranteed minimum income measures, has begun to stabilise funding and create the conditions for expanded clinical services.
"We look to the incoming Scottish Parliament to build on that foundation and continue to invest in pharmacy as a first point of contact for patients across the country."
He said the community pharmacy contractual framework for 2025‑26 in Wales has set a strong precedent, with increased investment and priorities that reward pharmacy teams for delivering accessible, preventative, clinically‑led care.
"The cluster-based model is maturing, and the focus on clinical service expansion is exactly the right direction. We urge the new Senedd to champion that vision and ensure resources match the ambition."
"In England, the ambitions of NHS England's Long Term Plan continue to reshape delivery towards prevention and neighbourhood care. The English council elections are a reminder that the wider determinants of health - housing, social care, public health - are shaped locally."
He called upon the incoming council leaders to work in partnership with community pharmacy, recognising it as an essential part of the local health infrastructure.
McQuillan said Numark will engage constructively with all newly elected governments and administrations. "Our members deliver millions of patient interactions every week. They are skilled, accessible, and ready to do more - if given the right support, the right funding, and the right recognition," he said.
