NHS of tomorrow must capitalise on community pharmacy’s potential – CPE

'Community pharmacy can effectively support the government’s three shifts if funding for the sector is stabilised'

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has submitted proposals for NHS 10-Year Plan, highlighting economic stabilisation of the sector, making Pharmacy First a walk-in service, and regulatory changes to enable pharmacists to better deal with medicines shortages as “quick and crucial ways” to improve the current situation.

In October, the health secretary launched a national conversation, seeking input and ideas to shape the future of the health service via the change.nhs.uk portal. Healthcare organisations were also invited to make formal submissions.

In their submission, the CPE emphasised the need for the NHS to leverage pharmacy's potential to identify “people with undiagnosed conditions and support behaviour changes to reduce the future likelihood of ill health.”

The organisation also underscored the importance of addressing the sector’s current funding gap, noting that “community pharmacy is lagging behind funding uplifts given to the rest of the NHS.”

In its response, the CPE states: “Community pharmacies can effectively support the Government’s three shifts, enhancing access to care for all patients, including those less well served by other parts of the NHS, supporting work to prevent ill health and providing improved outcomes for individuals and the NHS, but in order to achieve this, it is necessary for the NHS funding for the sector to be stabilised.”

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison emphasised the critical timing of the NHS plan, noting its significance for community pharmacies, which are in “an ever-more precarious position.”

She said: “Our overarching aim is to see increased commissioning of pharmacy services for the benefit of patients, the public and the wider NHS.

“But this cannot happen without first resolving the critical need for investment in community pharmacies, as well as a more supportive regulatory structure and better collaboration across the whole health service.”

Furthermore, Morrison noted that the NHS of tomorrow must capitalise on “community pharmacy’s USP – easily accessible healthcare advice and treatment close to where people live, shop and work – to help meet the government’s ambition to shift the focus of healthcare towards prevention.”

Community Pharmacy England's key proposals include: putting community pharmacies at the centre of primary care delivery, investing in the long-term stability of the sector, preventing closures, ensuring a supportive regulatory framework, expanding commissioned services, and promoting collaboration across primary care.

Sector facing significant funding pressures

The organisation also pointed out that the current funding model is “unsustainable and risks undermining efforts to embed Pharmacy First while putting core dispensing and supply services at risk.”

Community pharmacy funding has reduced from £2.8bn in 2015/16 to £2.592bn in 2023/24.

“The reduction in funding is causing pharmacies to close, totalling over 1,400 since the funding cut took effect,” it said.

The CPE’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey 2024 revealed that the trend in pharmacy closures is accelerating with an average of 10 pharmacies closing per week in the first four months of 2024, nearly 50 per cent higher than the same period in 2023.

One in six respondents stated that they are unlikely to remain open in a year and 64 per cent of pharmacy premises reported operating at a loss.

Over half of pharmacy staff surveyed reported that patients are being negatively affected as a result of these pressures.

CPE also proposes expanding Pharmacy First, vaccination programs, and women’s health services to shift more care from hospitals to community settings.