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Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock vowed to put community pharmacists "right at the heart" of plans to transform the NHS as he paid tribute to the sector at the annual Pharmacy Business Awards on Wednesday (2). The showpiece awards of the pharmacy calendar recognised and celebrated the very best of community pharmacies and the critical role they play in the healthcare system. Business leaders from the pharma industry, healthcare executives and leading politicians were amongst the 650 guests that attended the event held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in central London. Among the politicians in attendance were the newly elected trio of Sadik Al-Hassan, who is a community pharmacist, Kanishka Narayan and Dr Zubir Ahmed. The Labour MP for Brent West, Barry Gardiner helped present the top award, the Pharmacy Business of the Year.

Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock highlighted the role of community pharmacies in the Labour government's proposed healthcare reform during his speech at the 24th annual Pharmacy Business Awards on Wednesday. He outlined the government's vision for three strategic shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. Emphasising the crucial role that community pharmacies will play in achieving these changes, he said: "Pharmacies are based in, and recruit from, and are part of their communities, and we have to put you right at the heart of those three shifts if we are to deliver the change that our country so desperately needs." Kinnock also acknowledged the contribution of pharmacies in safeguarding the nation's health. He stated: "I've already heard, just in the short time that I've been in government since 4 July, of many examples of just how much patients and communities rely on your services and the lengths to which you go to deliver care."

We're approaching that time of year where the sun is supposed to be shinning and things are supposed to quieten down over the summer holidays (note I said supposed to. . . well we have the sun at least). The elections are over, and a new party is in power. Wes Streeting is the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. He's met with GPs and Dentists and has great ambitions for Primary Care but when will he meet with community pharmacists? To be fair to Wes, he did visit a local pharmacy in his constituency, with CPNEL last year as Shadow Health Secretary (and was a guest speaker at the Pharmacy Business Awards 2023). He has also had meetings with NPA and CPE, so we know he understands the value of Community Pharmacy. The question is, do we as a sector and profession need to shout louder so that we aren't forgotten about, as healthcare plans are being drawn up? Community Pharmacy is a humble sector, not unlike most other HC sectors. The difference is that we often get forgotten. I have lost count of the times I've heard in meetings or conversations "Primary care and community pharmacy. . ." totally disregarding the fact that we are part of primary care.

Rachna Chhatralia, the superintendent pharmacist at Day Lewis and winner of the 2024 Pharmacy Business Aspiring Pharmacy Leader of the Year award, points out that, despite the pharmacy workforce being predominantly female at grass roots, leadership positions in the sector are still largely dominated by males-a reality she believes "stands to benefit greatly from change." For Rachna, more women in leadership can drive meaningful advancements across the profession, bringing new perspectives and empathetic understanding that would benefit both teams and patient care. She urges women to embrace their potential, overcome doubts, and step into leadership roles, even if it means pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. However, Rachna acknowledges the distinct challenges that women face when progressing their careers, especially when balancing roles after career breaks for childcare. Having faced these obstacles herself, Rachna advises, "Women should not feel following motherhood, they cannot strive to achieve career aspirations. It may take a little longer, but it is absolutely possible." Her own career was shaped by resilience, often pushing past her doubts by focusing on the end goal. She recalls, "There were times I thought, 'I am not sure if I can do this, but I chose to challenge myself and proceed regardless.'

Boots and the PDA Union negotiating teams have reached an agreement on this year's pay claim, following constructive negotiations between both parties. The new pay deal will come into effect from 1 November 2024. Under the agreement, all eligible pharmacists and pharmacist store managers within the bargaining unit will receive a 4 per cent pay award, recognising their unique role within the community pharmacy sector and the business. Pharmacists and pharmacist store managers will qualify for the negotiated rates if they are members of the bargaining unit, employed as of 1 November 2024, and not serving a notice period. However, the pay award will not apply to those who have joined or had a pay increase on or since 1 August 2024, were rated as not performing at EOY 2024, or are a trainee pharmacist. All qualified pharmacists in the bargaining unit with over 10 years of service at Boots will receive a minimum of £53,000 FTE per annum, while all substantively appointed and performing Boots Pharmacist Store Managers will be paid a minimum of £55,000 FTE per annum.