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.
Pharmacy Minister, Will Quince received flu vaccination and blood pressure check at his visit to a Boots pharmacy in Westminster arranged by the Company
Chemists' Association (CCA).
The Boots pharmacist, Flavia, explained to the Minister the broad range of services the pharmacy delivers, from the new medicines service to emergency contraception
and the community pharmacy consultation service.
The Minister witnessed first-hand much of what the community pharmacy sector has to offer patients and the NHS.
Malcolm Harrison Chief Executive of the CCA said: "We share the Minister's vision on how community pharmacies and their teams can contribute to the 'Plan for
Patients' set out by the Secretary of State. It is great to have the support of the Minister and we are excited for the future of pharmacy.
In a stirring address at the recent conference on Pharmacy at the Westminster Health Forum, Director of NHS Services at Community Pharmacy England (CPE),
Alastair Buxton presented a stark assessment of the community pharmacy sector's challenges.
Highlighting years of financial constraints imposed by the NHS and government, Buxton warned of a sector teetering on the edge of survival.
"There have been no years of financial and operational squeezes applied by the NHS and
government to the community pharmacy sector, so as a consequence, there are a lot of pharmacies that are on the on the brink of survival -battling for survival,"
he said.
Buxton underscored the critical and indispensable role of community pharmacies in delivering essential NHS services, from dispensing medications to innovative
initiatives like the Discharge Medicine Service and Contraception Service.
Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group, an organisations from across the community pharmacy sector, who have come together to look into the future "supervision" in
community pharmacy, have published their final report.
Over the course of nine collaborative and positive workshop-style discussions the Supervision Practice Group aimed to provide recommendations to reframe legislation,
regulation and professional standards and guidance to achieve a new vision for community pharmacy.
The group have produced a report which makes several recommendations on the subjects of:
* the legislation relating to "supervision";
* the temporary absence of the RP from the pharmacy;
* delegation;
* the preparation and assembly of medicines when the RP is not signed in.
The group have provided recommendations on which the Department of and Social Care and the regulators can draft specifically worded revisions to legislation and
regulatory standards. These specific legislative and regulatory changes that are proposed by government and regulators will be subject to a full consultation process.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and BeWell are working together to help provide efficiencies and productivity that address the growing pressures within
community pharmacy.
BeWell's Pharmacy Management Platform provides robust solutions that include Patient Relationship Management, Omnichannel Communications and Engagement, Services
and Bookings Management, access to patient records, NHS Login supported Patient Application, and repeat prescription capabilities for Pharmacy Website and Patient
App that include integrations with Surgery Online Services.
This single interoperable platform is also integrated with pharmacy PMRs, connecting back office and administrative functions with front-of-house digital patient
experiences. In line with the NPA's vision, BeWell has taken a leading role in formulating a unique ecosystem of pharmacy partners uniting marketing agencies,
PGD-based service providers, and delivery method partners - integrating their capabilities within the BeWell platform.
In his maiden speech delivered to community pharmacy since becoming new minister with responsibility for the sector, Will Quince MP said he's determined to be
"your champion" and "voice in government".
Addressing delegates on Wednesday (Oct 12) as chief guest at the 22nd Pharmacy Business Awards in central London, he praised community pharmacy for delivering 25
million Covid-19 vaccines, five million flu jabs, 200 million lateral flow testing kits and millions of medicines throughout the pandemic.
"These local efforts became the national success story," he told over 600 attendees at a gala dinner held at the iconic Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel
overlooking the Houses of Parliament.
'We need you now'
Quince, who was appointed minister of state at the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 September 2022, added: "Just as we needed you in the pandemic, we
need you now," highlighting the vital role of community pharmacy in realising the secretary of state (Thérèse Coffey)'s vision, particularly in regard to her
much talked about 'Plan for Patients'.
Today I'm proud to share with you the statement we submitted to the UK Commission on Pharmacy Professional Leadership in which we set out what professional
leadership means to RPS.
I recognise we haven't always been clear in communicating our ideas to members and our external stakeholders. Through the Commission, and our own Independent
Review of member participation and communications, we are determined to remedy this.
We're committed to lead pharmacy in the best interest of patients and the professions. This means that sometimes we will need to take difficult decisions. We will
do the right thing for the long term, ultimately driving what's best for patient care.
There are some key changes we believe are necessary to fulfil the profession's ambitions.
To achieve a more unified approach to pharmacy leadership, we believe both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be represented by RPS within professional
faculties that capitalise on the strengths of each discipline whilst retaining distinct professional voices.
Many of our members work with pharmacy technicians every day and know just how essential they are to their role and to patient care. We feel the same at RPS and it
makes perfect sense to evolve into an organisation where both professions can advance their scope of practice, working in alignment as part of the wider
multi-professional team.
We will develop and implement post-registration curricula and credentialing for all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working with patients and the public. To
do this we will require formal delegation of authority by the GPhC.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has been on the lookout for innovative ideas and suggestions that could transform the future of pharmacy practice in England over the next decade.
The society's new project with the King's Fund to transform the future of pharmacy practice in England is at a consultation phase, seeking views and opinions of
pharmacy teams from all areas of practice including primary, secondary, social and community care to ensure that the system gets the best out of pharmacy and the
public receives seamless, joined-up care.
"We want to build a vision that sets out the role of and value of pharmacists and pharmacy teams working across systems, providing patient care and NHS services,"
said RPS in a statement.
"Transforming the future of pharmacy practice recognises the urgent need to build on new ways of working established across health and care systems during the
pandemic to meet the increasingly complex health needs of people and improve patient outcomes."
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has published an update on the work it is doing as part of the Transforming Pharmacy Representation
(TAPR) Programme to take forward the mandate from contractors to deliver the Review Steering Group (RSG) recommendations.
The update is primarily aimed at LPCs - with whom PSNC has been working closely on some of the TAPR work over the summer.
The TAPR Programme is being undertaken in support of PSNC's work to address the severe challenges facing the community pharmacy sector at present.
Alongside ongoing negotiations with Government and the NHS, two of the TAPR workstreams - focusing on Vision and Strategy, and on Influencing and Negotiation - are
essential to supporting CPCF negotiations.
"The workstreams are looking at the future of community pharmacy and how best to persuade policymakers to implement a shared vision, with their objective being to put
the sector in a stronger position going into future CPCF negotiations," said PSNC.
The National Pharmacy Association has published a medium-term prospectus for the development of pharmacy services, calling it a challenge to old ways of
thinking and an opportunity to redefine the sector's role in the NHS.
It follows months of dialogue with NPA members about what a clinical future could look like for the sector.
The document - Making Changes Meeting Needs - will be shared with the King's Fund and Nuffield Trust who are currently working on a new vision for the future on
behalf of Community Pharmacy England.
NPA chair, Nick Kaye, said: "Building out from the existing portfolio of services, there are some major opportunities within this decade, encompassing prevention,
medicines optimisation, long term medical conditions and urgent care.
As the general election campaign heats up, major political parties - including Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats - have released their
manifestos, detailing their plans and visions for the future of community pharmacy.
While the Conservative Party promises to expand Pharmacy First initiative, Labour pledges support for small businesses, with plans to overhaul the business
rates system.
The Liberal Democrats' election manifesto commits to developing a fairer and more sustainable long-term funding model for pharmacies.
Announcing their plans recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that they are investing in community care services to secure the future of the NHS and make
healthcare more accessible.
The Conservatives plan to fund these initiatives by cutting NHS managerial positions back to pre-pandemic levels and halving the government's management
consultancy expenditure.
McKesson UK's CEO Toby Anderson has stepped down from the role with immediate effect after over three years with the company.
Toby joined McKesson UK as CEO in September 2018 moving from health & beauty retailer A.S. Watson Group, where he spent 12 years in various roles. As CEO Asia
and Eastern Europe, Toby was responsible for a rapidly growing business with more than 3,300 stores - including 1,500 pharmacies.
Prior to that Toby spent 11 years in a number of senior roles with J. Sainsbury, the second largest grocery retailer in the UK, his last role being Head of Online.
Dominik Meüser from AURELIUS Group said: "We are extremely grateful for the commitment Toby has demonstrated over the years to help us achieve the McKesson vision of becoming the UK's leading healthcare organisation. His leadership, during a period of great uncertainty, has given us the solid foundations we can now build on
to deliver sustained success in the future.
It was a night filled with anticipation and excitement, and the atmosphere was electric with a sense of achievement and pride.
The 23rd annual Pharmacy Business Awards had the honour of hosting the distinguished Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, who
served as the event's chief guest.
The event took place on 4 October at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, located on the South Bank of the River Thames, right across from the Houses of Parliament.
There was a gathering of 600 guests, impeccably attired by the dress code, which added to the festive atmosphere.
In his keynote speech, Labour MP Streeting said the NHS, which marked its 75th anniversary in July, could once again become the "envy of the world".
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has issued a new policy statement which encourages a "life-course" approach to vaccination by pharmacists.
In the statement, published on September 27, FIP backed expansion of vaccine schedules and strategies so that patients of all age groups could be vaccinated
throughout their entire lifespan, from infancy to old age.
A life-course approach in public health and healthcare focuses on an individual's health and well-being, including vaccination, administered throughout their
entire lifespan, from infancy to old age.
FIP urged governments and policymakers to eliminate regulatory barriers, enabling pharmacists to prescribe and administer all relevant vaccines throughout the
life-course. Additionally, FIP recommended that policymakers develop remuneration models for pharmacies to deliver sustainable life-course vaccination services
within the private and public sectors.
The government on Wednesday (March 2) announced an investment of £260 million to support research, development and manufacturing of new drugs, devices and
diagnostics.
Of the total funding, up to £200m has been allocated for research to better access NHS data through Trusted Research Environments and digital clinical trial services, enabling availability of crucial data with the highest levels of privacy.
This will allow the NHS to deliver new life-saving treatments to patients, tackle health inequalities and improve patient care, a government release stated.
The remaining £60m will support commercial-scale manufacturing investments by companies at the leading-edge of innovation, from cell and gene therapies and earlier
and better diagnostic technologies, to medical devices.
The funding for manufacturing investments will be distributed through the new Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), following the success of the earlier Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund.
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."
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.
A new Attention-Deficit-Hyperactive disorder (ADHD) taskforce has been launched by National Health Services England (NHSE) to counter the challenges faced
by many suffering from the neurodevelopmental condition.
The ADHD taskforce aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan's vision to revolutionise mental health services, with a specific emphasis on bolstering community-based
care and reducing reliance on inpatient services.
The NHS has partnered with the government to tackle the escalating demands including increasing funding, improving system efficiency, altering the service
provision model, and clinical prioritisation by bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education and justice,
to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand.
Over the past two decades, there has been a significant expansion in the acknowledgement and successful medical interventions for ADHD, leading to a steady
rise in clinical requests throughout the UK.