Key Summary
- Liberal Democrat MP Rachel Gilmour expressed concern about the “fragile system” at breaking point and the challenges of the “volatile medicine supply”.
- Ahead of the debate, Community Pharmacy England briefed MPs extensively on the CPCF settlement and the need for further investment.
- Sadik al-Hasan spoke about the potential community pharmacy has to play a much broader role across acute care.
The Parliament on Tuesday (2) discussed the 2026/27 CPCF settlement, which was widely welcomed, but many MPs also warned of the economic challenges faced by the community pharmacies.
The Westminster Hall debate, sponsored by Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, considered the Future of Community Pharmacy.
Ahead of the debate, Community Pharmacy England briefed MPs extensively on the CPCF settlement and the need for further investment and support for pharmacies.
Almost 250 MPs received a briefing note, with a further smaller group receiving additional tailored constituency briefings and other information.
In her opening remarks, Gilmour said the CPCF settlement was a “positive move”, but that there was clearly further to go.
She expressed concern about the “fragile system” at the breaking point and the challenges of the “volatile medicine supply”.
Gilmour pointed out that the Government’s NHS strategy to provide care closer to home “cannot be delivered without the pharmacy network”.
She wanted the government to ensure the sector receives above inflation uplifts to close the funding gap, tackle the workforce crisis, and build closer integration with the wider NHS.
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy, Sadik al-Hasan MP, expressed thanks for the work that had gone into the settlement, but noted that he saw it as “a down payment on a brighter future. It is just a start, not an end point.” He went on to talk about the potential community pharmacy has to play a much broader role across acute care.
Opposition Health spokesperson, Dr Luke Evans MP wanted to “celebrate community pharmacy [as] the front door to the NHS”.
However, he also spoke of the “critical position” of the sector amid mounting pressure, including the additional costs from increases to employer contributions, national living wage and business rate rises.
Dr Evans also referenced headline findings from this year’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey conducted by Community Pharmacy England and due to be published later this month.
Continue to work with MPs: CPE
CPE director of communications Zoe Long said, “Politicians from all parties have today highlighted the hugely challenging and complex situation facing community pharmacy owners and their teams. Whilst the funding settlement is a step in the right direction, the sector is still facing huge hurdles just to keep the doors open, with demand for healthcare and services continuing to grow.
"We will continue to work with all MPs, and wider stakeholders, to keep up the pressure for the investment and support that community pharmacies still need. We look forward to working with Minister Kinnock and DHSC to begin the discussions on reform soon, and hope that pharmacy owners will contribute to this important work via our upcoming Regional Roadshow events.”
NPA welcomes debate on pharma sector
National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said, "We're grateful for MPs who debated the impact that pharmacy closures and cuts to opening hours has had on patients across the country and for raising these issues directly with the pharmacy minister.
"Although last week's funding announcement was a step forward, we are clear that serious challenges still remain and more must be done to start to close the £2.5 billion funding gap and reform our broken contract if we are to bring an end to the blight of pharmacy closures.
"Our analysis has shown that patients in communities with some of the highest health needs have been particularly impacted by a record number of closures.
"We are concerned that the current trend of closures has led to some rural communities becoming pharmacy deserts, particularly on weekends, leaving patients with significant distances to travel to get the care they need."
Earlier, care minister Stephen Kinnock said, "This agreement with CPE will provide much-needed investment, further building on last year’s uplift in stabilising the community pharmacy sector. We are also committing to work with the sector on reforms that improve sector sustainability, ensuring community pharmacies are able to continue to deliver for patients.
"I would like to thank CPE’s committee and am grateful to them for working constructively and at pace with officials to agree how best to use this significant new investment to support the sector, so that community pharmacies can continue to provide services to patients across the country."
