Olivier Picard, chair:

Community pharmacies have once again been voted among the UK’s most essential high street facilities in the latest of a long-running series of public opinion polls.

Convenience stores, post offices and pharmacies are the services that have the most positive impact on local communities, according to new ‘community barometer’ research carried out by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

My own pharmacies are among the many that can truly claim to be at the heart of the local community. They generate footfall and add to the social capital of the neighbourhood, in addition to providing valuable health services.

I’m not surprised that pharmacies are once again near the top of this annual poll. Pharmacies are part of the fabric of society, as well as being a frontline health service.

Sadly, the closure of 1,500 pharmacies in the last decade has left a hole in many high streets and secondary retail parades.

In his first week as prime minister, Andy Burnham talked up the importance of vibrant high streets to community life and local economies, and promised meaningful support.

One thing the NPA believes he can do to support the pharmacy network and bolster its role as an anchor of high street health and wellbeing, is to offer business rate relief to pharmacies. After all, this is enjoyed by other parts of the NHS, including GPs, dentists and hospitals.

Sukhi Basra, vice-chair:

Last month, I had the privilege of chairing a roundtable of healthcare professionals, patients and other experts, who gathered to validate findings from recent NPA research into pharmacist prescribing.

Pharmacist prescribing represents a great opportunity to bring more care closer to home, although significant obstacles to rollout remain.

As more pharmacists qualify as prescribers, we have a great chance to bring more care out of hospital and into the community. This would improve access for patients and make better use of capacity across the health system.

As a prescriber, I have seen the difference this can make in my own practice. I now support patients in new ways. Consultations that might once have required a referral can now be completed by me.

When that potential is considered across thousands of pharmacies, the benefit for patients and the NHS could be enormous. But potential alone is not enough, and this opportunity will not be realised without the right support, including funding.

The NPA’s research project aims to understand what needs to be in place for prescribing in pharmacies to grow safely, consistently and sustainably. The aim is to set out a clear way forward.

We are now moving forward with the next stages of the project: a practical framework and roadmap for pharmacist prescribing that offers real-world support to the pharmacy community. Watch this space!