Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, delivered a compelling speech at the NHS ConfedExpo 2024, emphasising the critical need for
investment in community-based care and the revitalisation of primary care services.
In his address, Taylor also criticised the current health policy as "not fit for purpose," calling for radical changes to shift the NHS from a reactive to a
proactive health model.
Addressing delegates at the Manchester event, Taylor highlighted the importance of shifting resources towards prevention and community services.
Underscoring a strategic pivot from reactive to proactive health models, he said:
"We must see action to fulfil the long-held vision of a health service that invests better upstream in prevention, in primary and in community-based care."
Achieving the community pharmacy vision necessitates legal adjustments and additional funding beyond recent boosts, the pharmacy vision document published
by Nuffield Trust and The King's Fund has revealed. It says community pharmacies in England must adapt to changing population needs amidst unprecedented health
and care challenges.
Commissioned by Community Pharmacy England, the report titled 'A Vision for Community Pharmacy', published on Sept. 19, is a result of almost a year of research
and extensive consultation with the sector and wider stakeholders, advocating for community pharmacy. The think tanks detail a shift in the community pharmacy
sector, highlighting how pharmacies can contribute to crucial policy objectives regarding population health, prevention, and the increasing demand in primary care.
"The health and care needs of the population are evolving, and pharmacies in England, like all components of the health and care system, must adjust to address
these changes," said Helen Buckingham, Director of Strategy at Nuffield Trust.