FEATURE


> Anas Hassan, a Scottish Pharmacist says that in his assessment the proposed cuts will have an impact on both Northern Ireland and Scotland.


“With over 12,000 signatures so far to an online petition calling for those proposed cuts to be stopped there is understandable widespread concern across pharmacy that any such measures could have a very negative impact for community pharmacy services south of the border,” he says.


“I am opposed to any cuts to the English community pharmacy budget. At a time when investment is needed to meet the growing demand for community pharmacy services, this is not a time to take away resources. Any proposed cuts to English community pharmacy has the potential to have a negative impact north of the border as well as in Wales and Northern Ireland.”


Pharmacists are being asked to raise awareness of a petition which states: “Stop cuts to pharmacy funding and support pharmacy services that save NHS money.”


The online petition has been instigated by Numark member Paul Mason. The Government says it will issue a response when 10,000 signatures are reached, and the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament when there are 100,000 signatures.


Numark has also announced a toolkit for its members to assist with raising local awareness of the planned cuts to pharmacy funding. It includes information on how to contact both the media and MPs and raise the issue. It also includes template letters and press releases.


Numark’s Managing Director, John D’Arcy, said, “There are still many


unanswered questions raised by the pre-Christmas letter from the Department of Health and we need to see how the situation evolves. However, some of our members are keen to take action now as they fear the subsequent threat to their livelihood, so, following discussions with contractors we are making these resources available now.


“This kit provides practical support and will help our members take action as well as prepare for the challenges ahead. Our Pharmacy Development Managers are being briefed this week and they will be discussing the issue with pharmacy owners on their regular visits.”


Mr D’Arcy also said that Numark was writing to the Health Minister and would be maintaining an open dialogue with pharmacy representative bodies to ensure there is a co-


ordinated response to the cuts from across the sector.


“However, our members are more vulnerable to the drop in remuneration than their multiple competitors and they are looking to Numark to provide assistance and leadership at this time,” he said.


The National Pharmacy Association says that “hundreds of independent pharmacists have already registered to take part in a coordinated response from the independent sector to NHS England proposals for ‘efficiencies’, such as centralised dispensing and more online supply of medicines.”


Pharmacists will be given “resources and hands-on support to build the evidence base required to make a compelling case to Government and NHS, and mobilise public opinion >


Sue Sharpe Statement:


At a time when primary care and urgent care services are struggling to manage demand, this is a profoundly damaging move. It will deliver a destructive blow to the support community pharmacies can offer to patients and the public. Community pharmacies provide vital healthcare and advice which reduces the burden on GPs and urgent care services and helps the NHS to cope with winter pressures.


The letter speaks of the potential for far greater use of community pharmacy and pharmacists in prevention of ill health, support for healthy living and minor ailments, but almost inevitably the impact of the cuts will force pharmacies to reduce staffing levels and direct more people to GP or urgent care. We remain staggered at the decision by the NHS to abandon negotiations on a national minor ailments service over the summer, a move entirely inconsistent with exploiting the potential identified in the letter.


“The letter speaks of the potential for far greater use of community pharmacy and pharmacists in prevention of ill health, support for healthy living and minor ailments, but almost inevitably the impact of the cuts will force pharmacies to reduce staffing levels and direct more people to GP or urgent care. We remain staggered at the decision by the NHS to abandon negotiations on a national minor ailments service over the summer, a move entirely inconsistent with exploiting the potential identified in the letter”


14 pharmacyinfocus.co.uk


Pharmacy owners, whose funding has been under pressure and who have been absorbing efficiencies over the last few years, will be incredulous that the Government:


“Believes those efficiencies can be made within community pharmacy without compromising the quality of services or patient access to them.”


There are many excellent business owners in the pharmacy sector, who are incentivised to run their businesses as efficiently and effectively as possible, meeting the needs of their patients and providing support to them, whilst delivering massive savings to the NHS by reducing drug costs. They will be


sceptical about the expertise within the Government that underpins its assertion.


For some months PSNC has been awaiting news from the NHS and we had expected that it would not be positive.


In a speech at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference in September the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer set out his view that large centralised dispensing facilities could be used to dispense up to two thirds of dispensing volume.


The letter includes a jumble of proposed measures, including centralised dispensing and online services. Reflecting the view of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer that there are too many pharmacies, the letter says:


“In some parts of the country there are more pharmacies than are necessary to maintain good access.”


The threat to the network is clear but the letter is very short on detail on how the NHS will manage this “clustering” of pharmacies.


The only context in which patient choice is mentioned is to give patients the option of online services.


The letter states that the Department will consult on the introduction of a scheme to provide additional funds to ensure that “those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive.” Following the shambles of the ESPLPS this promise will give little comfort to pharmacy contractors.


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