In the wake of the release of the second report from an inquiry into the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) pointed out that amid 'squabbling politicians' and their 'questionable decisions', the contributions made by community pharmacies during those 'dark days' cannot be forgotten.
In a LinkedIn post, the NPA said, "Make what you will of the reports from this week’s Covid inquiry, of squabbling politicians and questionable decision making at high levels of government. But one thing is sure: pharmacists were among the heroes of those dark days of crisis and fear.
"Pharmacies were on the frontline of the national effort to limit the impact of the coronavirus and to keep people well.
"As well as handling a massive increase in demand for advice and medicines, they continued to provide urgent care, help for minor illnesses, and support for people with long-term medical conditions."
It pointed out that while many other health services were operating 'behind closed doors', community pharmacy became the 'visible face' of the NHS for the majority of the population.
The community pharmacies absorbed pressure that would otherwise have fallen onto other parts of the system, including GPs and A&E, it added.
"Later, in the next phases of the country’s response to the pandemic, pharmacies would be key to unlocking mass testing, delivering vaccinations, and helping to ease Britain back into normal life.
"The NPA is officially a ‘core participant’ in the UK Covid inquiry (though not for this latest Module, which is about political decision-making)."
