Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has urged policymakers to provide community pharmacies a strong national framework and sustainable funding, so that they can invest, innovate and take an active role in improving healthcare access.
At an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy meeting on Monday (7), CPE Chief Executive Janet Morrison highlighted the important role pharmacies can play in supporting the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, particularly the shift towards neighbourhood health services and care closer to home.
She said community pharmacy has the capacity to do significantly more clinically, building on existing services and making greater use of pharmacists’ expertise.
“Community pharmacy is the obvious partner to help Government deliver the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan and shift more care into our communities. Convenient and accessible health advice plus speedy service rollouts such as Pharmacy First and MenB vaccinations – pharmacy teams have an incredible track record on providing essential healthcare support for patients. Building on these services is a no-brainer," Morrison said.
The CPE chief stressed on the need for “a strong national framework, but with flexibility for local innovation to meet population needs”, and argued that pharmacies are well placed to help improve access to care and support patients in their communities.
However, she said this must be backed up with the resources and support needed to expand their role.
She said that "sustained financial and operational pressures are damaging the viability of the sector, so it is crucial that community pharmacy has a stable and sustainable future is to continue delivering for patients. Ultimately primary care needs to evolve, and community pharmacy has an important role to play in that – but we must ensure they are appropriately resourced to do so.”
Morrison told attendees that community pharmacy remains “unclear about the direction of travel” and stressed that “core funding must be available if pharmacies are to invest in staffing, premises and training”.
She also highlighted the CPE Pressure Survey findings, which shows that many pharmacies are incurring losses and struggling to survive.
The speakers at the APPG meeting broadly agreed that community pharmacy has substantial untapped potential, but they need to address challenges like financial stability, workforce development, commissioning arrangements and better integration with the wider NHS.
The participants also highlighted the importance of integrating pharmacies into neighbourhood health models, referral pathways and digital systems.
The discussion explored opportunities to build on successful services already being delivered by pharmacies, including Pharmacy First, vaccination programmes, medicines optimisation and prescribing.
Comparisons were also made with Scotland’s broader Pharmacy First offer and international models such as Canada, where pharmacists have wider prescribing and substitution responsibilities.
Participants noted that growing these services would require both greater public awareness of pharmacists’ capabilities and stronger collaboration across the healthcare system.
Meanwhile, Peter Lilford, Deputy Director, Pharmacy, Eye Care & Controlled Drugs at the Department of Health and Social Care, expressed optimism about the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and highlighted ongoing work with Community Pharmacy England.
He also confirmed that Ministers are being briefed ahead of discussions on the next Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.
