Community pharmacy at ‘breaking point’: CPE submits evidence to Lord Darzi review

Community pharmacy has significant potential to reduce waiting times, but this can only be achieved with “sustainable funding” for the sector

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has submitted evidence to Lord Darzi’s investigation into NHS performance, highlighting the sector's value, challenges, and potential opportunities.

Professor Ara Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham, is leading the investigation, which has been commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to examine the challenges facing the healthcare system ahead of the development of a new 10-year plan for health.

The investigation’s findings are expected to be published in September 2024.

As the sector’s representative body, CPE has provided evidence to ensure that the performance and challenges faced by community pharmacies are considered as part of his review.

Their submission, based on internal analysis and independent reports, highlighted the severe funding crisis facing the sector, which is significantly impairing access to care for those most in need.

CPE warned that without urgent stabilisation, the potential for community pharmacies to deliver more clinical services and their value to local communities and the NHS will be lost.

The submission also underscored the significant economic and social value that community pharmacies provide, the declining proportion of total NHS funding spent on the sector, and the potential for community pharmacies to do more if the government and NHS provide fair and sustainable funding for community pharmacies.

In a letter to Lord Darzi, Janet Morrison, CEO of Community Pharmacy England, has shared additional insights and analysis on the role of community pharmacies in primary care and community settings.

She stated that the sector is “at breaking point” and “needs urgent attention”.

“Pharmacies are the front door to the NHS, but core funding has been reduced over the past decade by 30 per cent in real terms and pharmacy numbers – especially in more deprived communities - are declining.

“Given that an average pharmacy relies on NHS funding for 90 per cent of its income, we are now a sector at breaking point and need urgent attention.

“If we can keep the lights on with fair and sustainable funding, pharmacy can do so much more to support public health, help people manage their health conditions and reduce pressure on GPs and secondary care,” she wrote.

Janet noted that community pharmacy has significant potential to reduce waiting times by improving access to primary care, but this could only be realised with “sustainable funding” for the sector.

She also recommended a series of actions to help realise pharmacy’s potential, including:

• Placing community pharmacies at the centre of delivery of the government’s primary care priorities
• Investing in the long-term stability of the community pharmacy sector
• Stopping pharmacy closures; and
• Commissioning further services in community pharmacies.

Janet asserted that these actions are vital to improving primary care services in England.