The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) today (19 October) issued its official response to an evaluation conducted by an independent expert panel
from the Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) regarding government commitments in the pharmacy sector.
The joint agreement between DHSC, NHSE, and CPE (Community Pharmacy England) under a five-year plan commitment to review the funding model, however, the current
status is "continue to monitor and discuss progress".
The government has claimed that the panel's rating has "not been met" and still "requires improvement".
However, the funding "remains subject to affordability and consultation with the sector on the activity that can be delivered within that funding envelope".
MP Steve Brine, the chair of the health and care committee, said that the healthcare in the UK "doesn't work without pharmacy".
The inquiry focuses on addressing current issues, particularly around the "funding model, digital infrastructure and workforce recruitment, training and retention."
Brine said at the Sigma annual conference on Sunday, that he wants to "focus on the sector", and "drill down into some of the challenges and potential" that lies
ahead.
"The Health and Social Care Committee, we think about much of our work through the lens of pharmacy, what role it plays, the quality of care that it delivers, and
the potential for it to do more," said Brine.
He further said that he wants to "build on the groundwork" and to "cover as many of the different pharmacy services within the pharmacy sector as we can, so pharmacy
in our communities, in hospitals and general practice".
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) CEO, Janet Morrison said that the negotiations for the £645 million investment pledged to community pharmacies in 2023-25
have concluded.
The government's primary care recovery plan is to be announced in a "few weeks" and negotiations for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) from April
2024 will begin.
She said: "We have finished the substantive discussions on the recovery plan but detailed discussions about implementation are ongoing and we are awaiting final
clearance from the Government and the NHS.
"We hope that we will be in a position to make an announcement in the next few weeks and that negotiations on the CPCF from April 2024 will commence soon after
that."
Morrison reminded attendees that the Primary Care Recovery Plan is "to improve access to primary care by investing £645 million over the remainder of the year".
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Vitamin B12 helps keep the body's nerve and blood cells healthy. Also, it helps prevent a type of anemia that makes people tired and weak. You can find out more about it on the Canadian pharmacy site https://www.canadapharmacy.com/. I take it daily. But I recommend addressing a doctor first.
The national pharmacy bodies has created 'Save Our Pharmacies' campaign website to give new focus to calls for fair pharmacy funding in England.
The newly launched site contains key messages for public, politicians and stakeholders, and hosts campaign resources to be used by pharmacy teams.
The pharmacy bodies encourage members of the public and pharmacy teams to show their support for the campaign on social media, as well as signing the petition
and contacting their local MPs about fair funding.
A further resource in the form of a window poster is being printed and will shortly be mailed out to all community pharmacies in England.
It is the latest output of a joint programme of work being coordinated by PSNC, CCA, AIM and the NPA.
An executive director of Day Lewis and also board director and member of Association of Independent Multiple pharmacies (AIMp) Jay Patel highlighted the key
issues and on ground challenges faced by the community pharmacies in a meeting hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and health secretary Steve Barclay in Downing
Street on Saturday (January 7) to tackle the NHS pressure.
In his interview with BBC, he said: "He (prime minister) was very engaging and trying to understand the key issues and practical challenges on the ground."
Patel described the meeting atmosphere as 'collaborative and proactive', and said, "people were genuinely asked their options and there were listeners too."
On BBC, answering to a question on 'how community pharmacies can alleviate the NHS pressure?', Patel said: "Pharmacies is the workplace for this. We have trust of
our patients; we have high skilled workforce both clinically and professionally. One of the opportunities we have is working around the acute treat
New data published by NHS England on Thursday (4 January) showed that more than 31.4 million GP appointments (excluding vaccinations) were delivered
in November 2023.
This is four million more than the number recorded in the same month before the pandemic, and is considered the busiest November on record for GP teams.
Compared to the previous month (October 2023), 3.3 per cent more appointments were booked and attended on the same day in November.
Almost seven in ten patients attended their appointments within seven days of booking, an increase of 4.5 per cent from the previous month.
The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp) has changed its name to the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA).
AIMp, now IPA, stated that rebranding was prompted by the demand from independent community pharmacists for an association that properly represents their interests.
The membership of the Independent Pharmacies Association will not be restricted to pharmacy owners with multiple branches, as was the case with AIMp, but will
be open to all independents, it announced today (Tuesday).
It believes that the switch will "provide a clearer identity and afford a strong voice to the thousands of independent pharmacies in England and Wales."
Furthermore, the IPA noted that it will not primarily function as an insurance organisation with membership attached, but it will be "fighting for and
representing its members across all fronts."
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has finally published its response to the 2022 consultation on hub and spoke dispensing.
Considering the consultation evidence and further discussions, the government has expressed its intention to progress the proposals for enabling hub and spoke models
across different legal entities as soon as possible.
This will be achieved by using the enabling powers outlined in Part 2 of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (MMDA) to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and the
HMRs.
Furthermore, the DHSC has decided to proceed with the implementation of the two models of hub and spoke dispensing that it consulted on.
The government response to the consultation reads: "Having considered the responses, the government intend to proceed to implement the necessary changes to medicines
legislation to remove the current restrictions that prevent the hub and spoke dispensing models from operating across different legal entities found in section 10 of
the Medicines Act 1968.
The Professional Pharmacists Association (PDA) has demanded efforts to secure greater support and recognition for community pharmacists from governmental
bodies.
In its written evidence provided to the Health and Social Care select committee's pharmacy inquiry, the PDA raised concerns about the well-being of pharmacists,
specifically for those who belong to minority ethnic groups and race and are subjected to bullying, harassment, and ill-treatment.
The association highlighted issues in the workplace that impact pharmacists' health and well-being, including chronic understaffing, sub-standard working
environments, an absence of protected training time, and experiences of racism, violence, and abuse.
Parallel to the PDA's advocacy, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is intensifying calls for prioritising workforce wellbeing within the pharmacy domain.
Stressing the pivotal role of workforce retention in addressing current challenges, RPS emphasises the need for robust support mechanisms and equitable access
to mental health services.
PHOENIX UK has appointed Harry McQuillan, former CEO of Community Pharmacy Scotland, as Chairman of Numark, a community pharmacy membership organisation.
It has over 3750 members ranging from single store pharmacies to large chains, spread across the 'Four Nations'. The organisation provides its members with the
professional and commercial support they need to deliver exceptional care to local communities.
As Numark Chairman, McQuillan will be front and central of representing the interests of the members, and will help ensure policy makers across the UK understand
fully "the potential of community pharmacy."
Steve Anderson, Group Managing Director, PHOENIX UK, commented: "Harry brings to our Numark partnership an outstanding wealth of experience and understanding of
how community pharmacy can work successfully with government officials and politicians.
A recent report from Healthwatch England has highlighted that while people highly value the accessibility of community pharmacies, both in terms of
location and prompt service, they also encounter challenges in getting the most out of their pharmacy care experience.
The report titled 'Pharmacy: What People' is based on the research conducted by the organisation in November last year, involving 1,650 people who shared their
experiences of pharmacy services in England.
It showed the country's notable dependence on community pharmacies, with 72 per cent of respondents saying they have used a community pharmacy in the past three
months.
Usage of online pharmacies is considerably lower than community pharmacies, with only 18 per cent of individuals having used an online pharmacy in the past three
months, according to the report published on Tuesday (30 April).
Local pharmacists in England can now evaluate and provide treatment for patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women under the age
of 65, without the need for a GP appointment.
The 'ByeByeUTI' scheme has been expanded across the country, following a successful pilot across North East and North Cumbria.
More than 30,000 women have been treated for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at local pharmacies since the pilot scheme was launched in July 2022 as part
of the NHS and government's primary care access recovery plan, according to NHS England.
The expansion of pharmacy services not only enhances patients' access to care but also frees up tens of thousands of GP appointments at the same time.
Dr Faisel Baig, Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS England North East and Yorkshire, said that the rollout of this service across the whole region will enable
many more women to receive "faster and easier" access to advice and treatment.
With the UK General Election set for 4 July, pharmacy bodies are actively engaging with all political parties to secure support for the community pharmacy
sector. They are pressing parties to address urgent issues such as pharmacy closures and medicine shortages.
"The upcoming general election is a critical opportunity for us to strengthen supporters of community pharmacy in readiness for the new Parliament," said Janet
Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE).
She stressed the need for unity within the sector in advocating for community pharmacy and raising awareness of the issues with election candidates from all parties.
As the general election approaches, CPE has called upon all political parties to support pharmacies by "introducing a long-term sustainable funding model and
reviewing the medicines supply chain, including much-needed short-term relief measures."
Regular health screenings are an essential part of maintaining wellness, and one vital test for women is the Pap smear. Known for its role in early
detection of cervical cancer, the Pap smear is a simple yet powerful tool that can potentially save lives. In this blog, we will explore the significance of Pap
smears, what the procedure involves, and how often you should get tested.
The Importance of Regular Local Screenings
Staying on top of your health requires vigilance, and regular local screenings play an indispensable role in this effort. Local screenings, like Pap smears, are
essential in detecting potential health issues at their earliest stages, making treatments more effective and improving outcomes.
By participating in these routine checks, you not only safeguard your health but also contribute to broader public health efforts by identifying and addressing
potential outbreaks or health trends within the community. Whether that's HPV and Pap tests in Singapore or a mammogram in the US, local screenings are crucial
for maintaining overall wellness. This is especially true for Pap smears, as they play a significant role in detecting and preventing cervical cancer.
Change is sweeping through Westminster as the newly elected Labour government makes strategic cabinet appointments following their landslide victory in the
general election held on Thursday, July 4.
With Sir Keir Starmer stepping in as the new Prime Minister and Wes Streeting assuming the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care role, the announcement of
Karin Smyth and Stephen Kinnock as health ministers on Monday marked a pivotal moment in Labour's healthcare agenda.
Who is the new Minister of State for Health?
Karin Smyth, the Labour MP for Bristol South, has been appointed as Minister of State for Health.
Smyth has a robust background in healthcare, having served as a shadow spokesperson on health since December 2021.
Her previous roles include Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland and Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.
Before her parliamentary career, Smyth worked as an NHS Manager and held a non-executive director position at an NHS Trust.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA) has responded positively to the Labour Party's manifesto, which outlines plans to bolster community pharmacy
services and shift the NHS towards a more localized, prevention-focused model.
Key proposals include the creation of a Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service and the enhancement of care delivery in local communities.
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the CCA, expressed strong support for these initiatives and said:
"We welcome the Labour Party Manifesto's clear focus on moving to a 'Neighbourhood Health Service', prevention, and the return of the 'family doctor'."
"Harnessing community pharmacy is crucial to delivering each of these," Harrison added.