The UK Parliament is preparing for a significant reshuffling of select committee Chairs, a process that will shape the direction of parliamentary oversight
for the coming term.
The temporary hiatus after May 30 due to the general election on 4 July 2024, will resume as a Liberal Democrat MP will serve as the next chair of the health and
social care committee (HSCC).
Among the most critical positions up for election is the Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, which has been allocated to the Liberal Democrats.
As votes are casted to select an MP and the parliamentary landscape settles, attention is turning to what this means for the future of health policy in the UK.
Liberal Dems manifesto, released during the general election that took place in July, outlined a vision for a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system,
with a focus on enhancing accessibility and patient rights.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), professional membership body for pharmacists and pharmacy, has published its manifesto for the general election,
highlighting key issues facing the next government after the election on July 4.
Local candidates are urged to recognise and support the vital role pharmacists play in supporting people's health.
The RPS teams are gearing up to influence government policy in various crucial areas. Their key asks include:
Ensuring Secure Patient Access to Medicines
Supporting a Better-Connected NHS
Enhancing Accessible Prescribing in Local Communities
Maximizing Health Improvement through Locally Accessible Pharmacy Teams
Supporting the Workforce to Deliver Patient Care
Unlocking the Potential of New Advances in Medicines
Supporting the UK's Global Position in Science and Research
Acknowledging the efforts of pharmacists and their teams, Professor Claire Anderson, President of the RPS, noted that they are "working incredibly hard to
maintain patient access to care amid workforce challenges, medicines shortages and financial pressures."