Pharmacies bodies are pleased with Wes Streeting’s acknowledgment of the critical pharmacy funding pressures and his plans for primary care reform
Wes Streeting MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the new Labour Government.
The Ilford North MP will now take on the critical role of overseeing the National Health Service (NHS) and implementing Labour’s ambitious health agenda.
At the core of the Labour Party’s healthcare reform manifesto is enhancing accessibility to primary and community healthcare. This involves implementing a ‘Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service,’ to empower pharmacists with independent prescribing rights where clinically suitable.
This initiative aims to alleviate the strain on GP practices and enhance service accessibility.
Additionally, the manifesto proposes piloting Neighbourhood Health Centres, to integrate various healthcare services —such as family doctors, district nurses, and mental health specialists under one roof.
Streeting has recognised the pressing funding challenges faced by pharmacies and shown support for the sector during his campaign.
Commenting on Streeting’s appointment as new Health and Social Care Secretary, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) Chief Executive, Janet Morrison, said: “We would like to welcome the new Secretary of State to his role.
“We worked with Wes and his policy advisors whilst they were in Opposition, and have been encouraged by his recognition of the critical pharmacy funding pressures and support for the sector on the campaign trail.”
CPE is looking forward to “further strengthening Wes’ connection with community pharmacy and to working constructively with him and his colleagues to secure a sustainable future for community pharmacy that also supports the new Government’s health ambitions.”
She added that early discussions with the new government will be aimed at ensuring the future of this critical local healthcare network including finalizing negotiations for the 2024/25 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) and exploring Labour’s interest in developing a community pharmacy prescribing service.
The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) is supportive of Streeting’s plans for primary care reform, including the establishment of a ‘Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service’.
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the CCA said: “We congratulate Wes Streeting on his appointment as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
“We are encouraged by Mr. Streeting’s plans for primary care reform and welcome further detail on plans to create a ‘Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service’ and the granting of prescribing rights to pharmacists.”
He noted that community pharmacy is “absolutely integral” to realising the Secretary of State’s vision for primary care – whether that’s the return of the ‘family doctor’, embedding a greater focus on prevention in the NHS, or delivering more and more care closer to people’s homes.”
He added that the sector is ready and willing to delivering this vision but this can only be done “if there is adequate funding to ensure that patients can continue to access the medicines they need.”
“Moreover, pharmacies can do so much more to free up GP capacity, particularly through the expansion of Pharmacy First – but this is only possible through additional investment.”
As reported by Sky News, Wes Streeting studied history at Cambridge University, where he actively participated in student politics. He became the president of the National Union of Students in 2008, at the age of 25.
After his time in student politics, he worked for a Labour-affiliated think tank. In 2010, he was elected as a Labour councillor in Redbridge, East London.
Following five years in local politics, Streeting was elected to the House of Commons in 2015, after winning the seat of Ilford North, the area where he had served as a councillor.
Streeting campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union in 2016 and was re-elected to the Commons with an increased majority in 2017. After Labour’s defeat in the 2019 general election, Jeremy Corbyn resigned, and Sir Keir Starmer took over as party leader.
In April 2020, Streeting joined the party’s frontbench as shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury. By the end of the year, he was appointed shadow schools minister, and in May 2021, he was promoted to the shadow cabinet as the shadow secretary of state for child poverty, a role created for him and later abolished.
In November 2021, Streeting was appointed shadow health secretary.
Sir Keir Starmer has become the new Prime Minister following his Labour Party’s landslide victory, marking their return to power after over a decade in opposition.
In his inaugural speech outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he would lead a “government of service” on a mission of national renewal.
With results declared for all but two seats, Labour secured 412 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, while the Conservatives obtained 121 seats.
