Judith has written to Pharmacy Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom MP with the backing of 20 MPs from across the political spectrum to commit to making changes to support community pharmacies and the patients who use them across the UK.
You can read the full letter below:
Dear Minister
As Members of Parliament, we would like to raise our concern over the unprecedented pressures facing community pharmacies in England.
Since 2015, core pharmacy funding has reduced by 30% in real terms, which has resulted in many pharmacies in our constituencies operating at a loss. These pressures have been compounded by inflationary pressures including on workforce and energy costs and medicine supply challenges.
Unlike other sectors, community pharmacies cannot pass increasing costs onto their customers, as NHS funding accounts for 90% of their income.
Recent figures from the NHS estimate that since October 2016, approximately 1,400 pharmacies have closed permanently, with many more withdrawing services, or reducing their opening hours. Evidence suggests that these closures have been occurring in areas with the highest levels of deprivation and need, and that other pharmacies are struggling to fill the gaps.
We are greatly encouraged that pharmacies will have a greater role to play in primary care through the Pharmacy First service. It will be beneficial to make greater use of pharmacists' professional skills to deliver more clinical services to patients closer to their home, and in doing so, relieve pressure elsewhere in the NHS.
To support the community pharmacy sector in the face of these pressures, we call for your urgent consideration of three measures:
A commitment to working with the sector to create a fair and fit-for-purpose core funding model that ensures sustainability and properly rewards pharmacies for what they do.
Effectively implement and develop the Pharmacy First service to allow patients to have walk-in consultations for minor conditions, providing accessible care and easing pressure on general practice
Build on other clinical service areas such as vaccinations, women's health, and long-term conditions management. Pharmacy can do much more contribute to key NHS priority areas and to help to deliver greater access for patients to health support.
Yours sincerely
Judith Cummins MP
Virendra Sharma MP
Dame Diane Johnson MP
Sir George Howarth
Derek Twigg MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
Wera Hobhouse MP
Helen Morgan MP
Sally-Ann Hart MP
Peter Aldous MP
Dame Priti Patel MP
Derek Thomas MP
Sir Peter Bottomley MP
Greg Smith MP
Steve Double MP
Dame Andrea Jenkyns MP
Robin Walker MP
Sir Julian Lewis MP
Selaine Saxby MP
Lia Nici MP
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