If the sector is stabilized and a fair deal is achieved, community pharmacy could effectively deliver solutions that support the government’s policy goals

Janet Morrison, CEO of Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has emphasised that stabilization of the sector is essential before any solutions can be delivered to fix the “struggling” health service.

Speaking at the recent SIGMA UK Community Pharmacy Conference 2024, Janet described the current contract as “unaffordable” and warned that pharmacies are becoming “unsustainable.”

“Without an urgent funding uplift, the sector is facing a ‘house of cards’ collapse that will seriously impact communities, patients, and the safety of medicine supply.

“So, first of all, we have to secure the stabilization. We have to make sure you can keep the lights on and the doors open, and that’s critical,” she stated.

Janet pointed out that if the sector is stabilized and a fair deal is achieved, community pharmacies could effectively deliver solutions for the government that meet their policy goals.

However, she noted that negotiations for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) for 2024-2025 cannot resume until the budget is published on October 30.

The CPE had begun negotiations in March with the previous government, but discussions were halted due to the general election.

“The Department of Health has made submissions to the Treasury for this year’s funding shortfalls and the Spending Review for 2025-2026. They can’t proceed with negotiations with us till those discussions are resolved,” Janet explained.

In the meantime, the CPE committee is reviewing its negotiating strategy, objectives, red lines, and tactics to adopt if the desired outcomes are not achieved.

Janet stated that the new government has committed to responding to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s pharmacy inquiry, which reinforces the need to fix the contract and funding, as well as medicine supply issues.

Reflecting on a recent meeting with Stephen Kinnock, she described the conversation as “productive and positive,” highlighting the pharmacy minister’s seriousness in listening to the concerns raised by pharmacy representatives.

Janet highlighted the ongoing funding crisis within community pharmacy, revealing that the previous government had deliberately cut funding by over 30% in real terms, which has “squeezed the whole sector beyond capability now.”

This has resulted in increased workload intensity, with demand rising every year and the contract continually adding new services.  Over this period, service delivery increased by 350%, and dispensing grew by 5-9% each year, Janet stated.

“We were doing a whole lot more for less money in real terms, and that has also been accompanied by, particularly in the last few years, rising operational costs, inflationary pressures, workforce costs,” she added Read More…