CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND COMMUNITY PHARMACY SECTOR RAISED DIRECTLY WITH UK GOVERNMENT
A delegation travelled to London in December to seek UK Government NIO Minister Fleur Anderson MP’s support for vital community pharmacy services that are in financial crisis and at risk of collapse in Northern Ireland.
Representatives from Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), including local pharmacy owners were led by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan as they met the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to seek stabilisation of the community pharmacy network.
Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI) Chief Executive, Gerard Greene said, “Community pharmacies are under mounting financial pressures. Due to long- term underfunding and increasing costs, the community pharmacy financial model is stretched to breaking point. Pharmacy owners in Northern Ireland are battling to keep the doors open while continuing to provide essential local healthcare services. With many pharmacy owners personally propping up the national health service it is utterly unsustainable and unjust.
“We’ve made the trip to London to take community pharmacies’ desperate plea to the government’s Northern Ireland Minister who listened to the concerns raised. During the meeting, we also raised the budget
NIO Minister Fleur Anderson MP met Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan alongside community pharmacists Paul McKenna, Richard Grahame and CPNI CEO Gerard Greene on community pharmacy funding pressures in Northern Ireland.
implications relating to the UK-wide National Insurance Contribution increase, which will add further financial pressure to already stretched pharmacies.”
Community pharmacists are increasingly playing a greater role in health transformation with the
delivery of an expanded range of clinical services. At a time when this clinical expertise and accessibility is widely recognised as a key asset in alleviating pressures on other primary care services, we should be looking at ways to further harness this potential rather than place the network into further financial peril.
PHARMACY FIRST SORE THROAT SERVICE
With the extension of the Pharmacy First Sore Throat service to 31 March 2025, participating community pharmacies are invited to publicise the service using the following resources:
Service promotion Pharmacy First Sore Throat – Instagram/Facebook Pharmacy First Sore Throat – X Poster
Additional resources: training presentations CPNI PowerPoint Presentation GP practice staff training presentation
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