Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

CCA: Appreciate Streeting’s desire to enhance pharmacies’ role in primary care reform but sector needs urgent funding

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlined his plans for NHS reform on Friday (21 April), where he also mentioned a desire to see pharmacies take on more workload and pharmacists’ clinical skills to be better utilised.

In his speech, he also expressed concern at warnings from the pharmacy sector and pharmacy closures.


The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) appreciated Shadow Health Secretary’s desire to enhance pharmacies’ role in primary care reform but also stated that the sector is in urgently needs a funding injection.

Dr. Nick Thayer, Head of Policy at the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) comment: "We are pleased to see the Shadow Health Secretary recognise the enhanced role that pharmacies should play in primary care reform.

Mr Streeting wants to see care brought closer to people’s homes and more front doors into the NHS. With 89.2% of the population located within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, pharmacies do just that. They are essential to realizing his vision of a ‘neighbourhood health service’.

Pharmacies could free up over 42m GP appointments annually, including 10m vaccination appointments.

Urgent same-day appointments for minor conditions in pharmacies will immediately benefit patients by increasing GP access. The first step is for the Government to immediately commission a fully-funded Pharmacy First service in England.

With a 30% real-terms cut in funding and 720 pharmacies permanently closing since 2015, pharmacy desperately needs a funding injection. We cannot let the sector whither and decline, otherwise patient care, especially for those in the most deprived communities, will suffer”.

More For You

Air pollution in UK linked to thousands of deaths and chronic health conditions

A report by the Royal College of Physicians claims that air pollution was causing harm to almost every organ of the body.

iStock

Royal College of Physicians paints grim picture of air pollution in UK

Doctors warn that around 99 per cent of the population in the UK are breathing "toxic air", and around 30,000 deaths will be linked to air pollution in 2025.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) claimed in a report that air pollution was causing harm to almost every organ of the body, and shortening life by 1.8 years on average.

Keep ReadingShow less
Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

The last date for submission is 30 June 2025.

Pic credit: iStock

Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

More than 50 per cent of the community pharmacies in England have failed to complete their Data Security and Protection Toolkit 2025 with the deadline in less than two weeks.

Necessary guidance regarding the toolkit has previously been provided by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) earlier.

Keep ReadingShow less
Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

In the UK, over three million people have osteoporosis.

Pic credit: iStock

Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has launched a free online service called BoneMed which is aimed to support patients with osteoporosis in taking their medicine and remove barriers to adherence.

After completing a five-minute online survey, patients will be emailed a summary of the medicine they have been prescribed and six further updates throughout the year on their medication.

Keep ReadingShow less
GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

GPhC's Strategic Plan 2025-30 will focus on empowering pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

iStock

GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) launched its new plan for the next five years to uphold safety, quality and public trust in pharmacy.

The regulatory body unveiled its Strategic Plan 2025-30 during a Parliamentary event attended by pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock on Wednesday (18).

Keep ReadingShow less
Glucose monitor and test strips on a blood sugar tracker sheet with lancets and pen device.

Medical device manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

iStock

Medical device regulation overhauled to improve patients' safety

Medical device manufacturers must now adhere to the UK's post-market surveillance (PMS) regulations.

The new rule came into effect on June 16, and manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

Keep ReadingShow less