Community pharmacies are being forced to halt certain NHS and public health services due to escalating financial and operational pressures, a recent survey
by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has revealed.
In the survey conducted ahead of the June Committee Meeting, an overwhelming 96 per cent of pharmacy owners reported having stopped delivering locally
commissioned services over the past twelve months.
Additionally, nearly one-third of the pharmacies surveyed indicated they had discontinued providing some Advanced services.
The survey also revealed that pharmacy opening hours are being reduced, with 81 per cent of respondents stating they had to stop offering extended hours.
In 90 per cent of the cases, pharmacy owners had to cease employing locum pharmacists, likely due to cost constraints.
Furthermore, over 20 per cent of the more than 2,100 pharmacies surveyed reported having to discontinue the free delivery of prescription medicines to patients.
The latest GP Patient Survey 2024 by the National Health Services (NHS) involving 2.56 million patients has revealed encouraging insights into patient
experiences with pharmacy services across England.
Along with pharmacies, GPs, and dentistry services were also surveyed highlighting the vital role these services provide in healthcare delivery.
Among the key findings, 89.3 per cent of respondents reported utilising at least one pharmacy service in the past year, highlighting the widespread reliance
on these facilities.
Of those who used pharmacy services, an overwhelming majority of 86.8 per cent expressed satisfaction with their experience.
The survey identified 'picking up prescriptions' as the most commonly accessed service, with 75.8 per cent of patients utilising this facility.
There is clear evidence that the majority of distance selling pharmacies are operating in breach of their NHS contracts, and a failure to properly
regulate 'pseudo' distance selling pharmacies is leading to local pharmacy closures, the Company Chemists' Association has reported.
According to the CCA's recent findings, 72 per cent of DSPs dispense over 50 per cent of their prescriptions to patients within a single postcode area within
10 miles of the pharmacy.
"Operating within constrained geographical regions, pseudo-DSPs achieve reduced overheads and operational costs by focusing on localised marketing and medicine
delivery. They compete against local brick-and-mortar pharmacies, causing them to lose vital trade," the CCA claimed, based on its recent survey - The Impact of
Pseudo Distance Selling Pharmacies.
"As per their terms of service, DSPs are obligated to provide prescription delivery nationwide, extending beyond local patients," said the CCA, adding that the
financial savings resulting from the lack of patient access are balanced by the necessity to function on a national scale.
People in the UK have a high level of trust in pharmacies and many are keen on seeing the Pharmacy First initiative expanded, according to the 2024 STADA
Health Report published today (24 June).
The 10th annual health report by global healthcare leader STADA Arzneimittel AG, the parent company of Thornton & Ross, involved a survey of over 46,000
respondents across 23 countries, including 2,000 participants from the UK.
The UK data showed an overwhelming trust in UK pharmacies, with 94 per cent of those surveyed (more than nine out of 10 Brits) saying they have only ever had
good advice from a pharmacist.
The report also indicated a strong desire for the Pharmacy First scheme to be expanded, with 44 per cent of respondents advocating for an increase in pharmacists'
scope of responsibilities to support doctors.
A survey report by market research and data analytics firm, YouGov, has indicated that while there is a demand for home pharmacy delivery among consumers,
the current supply or awareness of this type of service appears to be low.
The poll found that approximately one-fifth of British consumers (18 per cent) have used a pharmacy delivery service in the past year.
However, more than double that figure (40 per cent) expressed their intent to use such a service in the next 12 months if it were available, suggesting an
opportunity for growth in this sector.
This difference is especially pronounced in the Midlands, Scotland, and Wales, where the potential demand more than triples actual use.
Compared to other regions, the current use of pharmacy delivery services is notably low in the Midlands, standing at 12 per cent, and in Wales and Scotland,
where the collective usage rate stands at 14 per cent.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has announced the margin delivery rates will increase from October as the agreed £100m write off is
implemented.
"The baseline margin allowance will remain £800m per year in 2022/23 and 2023/24," said PSNC.
"Margin levels in the last two full years (2020/21 and 2021/22), as measured by the Margin Survey of independent pharmacies, were in excess of the baseline allowance,
meaning that an excess was accrued."
As new services have been introduced and take up of these has accelerated, the amount of unallocated funding left in the CPCF is now less than it previously was.
As such, the value of the Transitional Payments will decrease from its current level. Some of the unallocated funding remaining in 2023/24 will be repurposed into
a Flat Payment for all contractors (see details below).
Over the course of the second half of 2022/23, the value of the Transitional Payments will be phased down. This will start in October 2022 with a reduction in payment
levels to approximately 85% of the current level, as shown in the following table: