Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘I care deeply about the future of our community pharmacies,’ says Rishi Sunak

‘I care deeply about the future of our community pharmacies,’ says Rishi Sunak

The UK prime minister also recognised the need to invest in health infrastructure across the country  

Responding to an MP’s question in the House of Commons, prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated his deep concern for the future of UK community pharmacies, stressing their commitment to enhancing the sector with an additional £645 million in funding through the Pharmacy First initiative.


At the recent Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday, Angela Richardson, the Conservative MP for Guildford, raised the issue of rising pharmacy closures, revealing that Guildford recently lost two neighbouring pharmacies.

Highlighting that empowering local pharmacies is a key part of this government's plan to cut waiting lists, she asked Sunak whether he would agree that it is vital for residents to have access to “a good, efficient, and above all, local pharmacy.”

In response, Sunak said: “I care deeply about the future of our community pharmacies.”

“And she's now right about the important role that our local pharmacies can play. That's why we're backing them with £645 million of additional funding through Pharmacy First so that you can now go straight to your pharmacist, and receive treatment for seven of the most common ailments, saving you time and ensuring that patients get the care they need quicker and closer to home.”

Announcing a positive development, the Guildford MP informed the House of Commons that she has helped secure a new pharmacy in Burpham by collaborating closely with local pharmacists, concerned residents, the minister, and the ICB.

She asked the prime minister if he would join her in welcoming this new pharmacy.

Sunak responded that he was “very pleased” to hear about Richardson’s success in securing a new pharmacy for her constituents, noting its addition to the “10,500  others across the country.”

Navendu Mishra, Labour Party MP for Stockport, brought to the attention of Parliament major structural deficiencies at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, citing a report from The  Guardian.

He said: “Stepping Hill’s major out-patients building, the radiology department and the critical care unit have all been condemned.

“In March, I met with senior officials at Stockport NHS Trust and they were clear that a sustained lack of capital investment was the root cause of problems at my local hospital.”

He questioned the prime minister whether he thought “our hospitals quite literally crumbling is the price worth paying for 14 years of successive Conservative failure.”

In response, Sunak said that they fully recognise the need to invest in health infrastructure across the country, including at Stepping Hill Hospital.

“That is why we are currently spending around £4 billion a year for trusts to spend on necessary maintenance and repairs, on top of the £20 billion new hospital programme and the additional funding that was put aside to deal with RAAC—reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete——maintenance.”

Sunak suggested that Labour Party MP should look at his party’s record in Wales, where people are currently experiencing “the worst A&E performance and the longest wait times anywhere in Great Britain.”

More For You

NHS pharmacy funding not enough 2025: £3.073B deal with £1.99B gap fuels reform debate.

Funding alone isn’t going to be enough to save community pharmacy

Photo credit: gettyimages

New funding contract ‘not enough’ to release the sector from financial blackhole

After almost a year without an agreement, a new funding contract for community pharmacy was finally announced yesterday (31 March).

The settlement raises the baseline annual funding for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) in 2025/26 to £3.073 billion, with an additional £215 million secured to continue Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free morning-after pill at pharmacies to end postcode lottery for patients

Pharmacy technicians will be allowed to supply of drospirenone for contraception under PGD,

gettyimages

Pharmacy contract: Free morning-after pill to be available at pharmacies soon

The UK government has announced that, for the first time ever, the ‘morning-after pill’ or emergency contraceptive pill will be available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed a record £3.073 billion funding package for community pharmacies in 2025/26, alongside an additional £215 million to sustain Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal College status: The PDA calls for ‘meaningful and collaborative dialogue’

The profession’s success will depend on collaboration across all sectors, says PDA.

gettyimages

Royal College vote: Less than 7% of GB pharmacists in favour, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for moving too quickly to a ballot on its proposed transition to a Royal College, arguing that it resulted in low participation from pharmacists in Great Britain.

Announcing the results of the special resolution vote, the RPS said that the outcome was a “clear mandate” in favour of the transformative change.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS Wales calls for urgent investment in pharmacy workforce at Senedd meeting

Third from the left: Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales

Photo credit: RPS

Invest in pharmacy workforce: RPS Wales urges Senedd members

Members of the Senedd (MSs) were briefed on the increasing pressures facing pharmacy teams and the urgent need for action to support their health and wellbeing at an event hosted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Wales.

The event, held on Wednesday, brought together MSs, including first minister Eluned Morgan, to discuss the findings of RPS’ latest Workforce Wellbeing Survey.

Keep ReadingShow less
Imported dengue reach record high, warns UKSHA

Most dengue cases were linked to travel to Southern and South-Eastern Asia.

Getty Images

Imported dengue cases hit record high – Consult your pharmacist before you travel

The UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has warned that imported dengue cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EWNI) have reached their highest level since dengue surveillance began in 2009.

New data from the agency reveals that 904 dengue cases were reported among returning travellers in these countries in 2024, a sharp increase from 631 in 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less