PSNC discusses with stakeholders impact of fuel crisis on community pharmacy

To discuss the ongoing fuel crisis and its impact on community pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) held a meeting with stakeholders from across the supply chain, including the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I).

All agreed that the situation has started to improve, but acknowledged that some areas still remain affected by delays to deliveries of medicines.

The stakeholders also agreed that fuel crisis has increased the workload and stress levels for everyone across the supply chain and vowed to keep a watch on the evolving situations.

In addition to fuel crisis, the HGV driver shortages led to unpredictable deliveries of medicines into warehouses, creating logistics issues for wholesalers.

Meanwhile, the DHSC confirmed availability of sufficient stock of medicines within the supply chain.

PSNC director, legal, Gordon Hockey said: “The continued patient access to medicines throughout the fuel supply issues has been testament to the robustness of the medicines supply chain, as well as the incredible work of pharmacy teams and others across the supply chain to minimise the impact of any disruption.”

The meeting was also attended by representatives from organisations including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the Association of Independent Multiples (AIMp), the Company Chemists Association (CCA), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Consumer Healthcare Association (PAGB).