The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is “exploring” proposals to make new NHS local bodies responsible for pharmaceutical services. In a white paper published on February 12, the government presented its vision for making the health and care system “fit for the future” – including giving more accountability to local health and care systems. As part of this, the commissioning of pharmacy services would largely fall under the remit of an integrated care system (ICS) NHS body instead of NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I). ICSs are local commissioning bodies made up of representatives from community and hospital health services, mental health services and local councils.
Taking Pharmacy Forward webinar
Speaking at the recent ‘Taking Pharmacy Forward’ webinar hosted by Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc, Dr Bharat Shah CBE who is a co-founder of Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc said, “Sigma has commissioned a project at the University of Bath that has now come to an end, and we are hoping to publish the results in Q4 this year. This project is a model for pharmacy in the UK in the year 2025. It has been undertaken along with the School of Pharmacy, the School of Social Sciences and the School of Management. We would like our parliamentarians to support the report so that we’re singing from the same hymn book.”
At the webinar, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon. Matt Hancock MP thanked community pharmacy for stepping up and supporting their communities when, during the “darkest days” of the lockdowns, they were often the only shops on the street that were open.
He recognised the role of community pharmacy in the flu and Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, saying not only had pharmacies delivered over five million vaccines, but they had also worked hard in their communities to persuade people to take up the vaccine. Confirming a booster programme for the Autumn, the details of which are yet to be agreed, Mr Hancock described a greater role for pharmacies in delivering both covid and flu vaccinations.
Speaking on the new Health and Social Care bill, Mr Hancock described pharmacy as the core of primary care. He said that the Integrated Care Systems will deliver the best possible care, and up to 20 million GP appointments could be referred to pharmacies reducing demand and taking pressure off the system.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) is “carefully considering” waiving community pharmacy’s obligation to pay back £370 million in advance of Covid-19 funding. In March, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) announced it had secured £300m in advanced funding in “recognition of the significant cash flow pressures facing the sector at this point in the Covid-19 pandemic”.The DH later agreed to pay pharmacies in England an additional £50m in May, followed by an extra £20m in June.
NPA Chief Executive Mark Lyonette told Asian Voice, “I was pleased to share a platform with the then health secretary, Matt Hancock, at a webinar hosted in June by Sigma Pharmaceuticals. He was very enthusiastic about community pharmacy and what it is capable of delivering. Now I look forward to working with the new Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, to put community pharmacy on a sustainable footing, to get the country through the pandemic, to improve access to primary care and tackle future public health challenges. He and Pharmacy Minister Jo Churchill can rely on community pharmacy continuing to give it its all, provided the resources are in place to underpin its vital work at the heart of the NHS.
“The National Pharmacy Association met the former Secretary of State several times for frank discussions about primary care reform and pharmacy funding. We frequently reminded him, though, that the current level of NHS investment is not enough to unlock our sector’s potential. Matt Hancock predicted a greater role for pharmacies in preventative healthcare in the future, which makes complete sense given our position at the heart of communities. He implied that this would include a big shift in NHS flu and covid vaccination programmes towards delivery in pharmacies.
“Let’s hope that Mr Javid makes the same judgement. As it stands, 500 pharmacies have delivered over 5 million covid vaccinations, so you can easily imagine the volumes that could be achieved if all pharmacies are engaged. Community pharmacy’s heroic response to coronavirus has opened many people’s eyes to the potential in this sector. Having been on the frontline throughout the crisis, pharmacists now have a key role in helping the nation come out the other side – through the vaccine programme and testing for covid, plus releasing NHS capacity to clear its daunting.
Community Pharmacy - key to prevention
Speaking to Asian Voice, Professor Mahendra Patel, Co-Investigator and Ethnic Minority Communities and Pharmacy Research Lead PRINCIPLE Trial University of Oxford said, “I think community pharmacy is going to be key to prevention of stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure. These are issues that could easily escalate as we go forward, and I think it is important that the government invests in the services the pharmacist can very well provide so that these things don't become unmanageable.
“Community pharmacists play a significant role not just in the community but also in primary care. They can also help in identifying early signs of diseases like cancer.”
Recent virtual events hosted by Sigma Pharmaceuticals:
The Changing Tax Landscape (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXSbqpmBOPE)
Taking Pharmacy Forward (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOw3RvD9ltE)
