CPCF negotiations delay sparks ‘deep anger and frustration’ among pharmacy owners

CPE demands that urgent funding be released into the sector, even before CPCF negotiations are concluded

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has called on ministers to provide immediate funding relief to the sector while cautioning about the consequences of the continued delay in recommencing the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) negotiations.

In a ‘strongly worded’ letter to ministers, CPE chief executive Janet Morrison described the intensity of the crisis facing community pharmacies due to chronic underfunding and the severe consequences for patients and communities.

She warned that without urgent remedial action, pharmacy closures will continue and there will not be a community pharmacy sector left to deliver the Contractual Framework, let alone the future ambitions of the government and the NHS.

Morrison said: “We are now eight months into the 2024/25 financial year with no financial settlement in sight: this is disastrous from a business planning perspective, falls short of proper economic regulation, and the continuation of current underfunding is proving catastrophic for community pharmacies.

“I have written to ministers once again to warn them that with every day that passes, more community pharmacies are falling into debt and administration.”

The letter followed the November meeting of the Community Pharmacy England Committee in London, where members expressed “severe frustration and intense anger” about the fact that the government has yet to recommence negotiations whilst pharmacy businesses are “teetering on the edge.”

In a video message, Morrison gave an update on the latest Committee meeting, CPCF negotiations, the work that CPE is doing, and actions they have taken.

Morrison briefed the committee on her understanding of the delay in recommencing negotiations.

She explained: “The agreement on what we can be offered has got stuck in the negotiations between the department of health finance team and the NHS England finance team.”

“My understanding has been that the biggest challenge has been in terms of them having to settle what could be agreed across all of the NHS priorities, including addressing the additional costs arising from the recent budget statement.”

The committee made it clear that urgent funding must be released into the sector, regardless of whether all negotiations have been concluded.

“If we don't get resolution very soon, it has serious consequences for our staff, for patients and for communities,” Morrison added.