The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England has reaffirmed its opposition to the community pharmacy funding cuts.

The English Pharmacy Board, in its meeting this week, discussed the motion on the Society’s response to the cuts tabled by board member Sid Dajani, which was subsequently withdrawn. A new motion was proposed and unanimously approved by all board members.

The new motion read: “The English Pharmacy Board wholly opposes and condemns the community pharmacy cuts. The board has consistently been united in its opposition to the cuts and there has never been any dissent from the position taken. We continue to work closely with other pharmacy organisations and will continue to press for a positive and financially sustainable future for community pharmacy so that the public can benefit from a viable community pharmacy network, providing an increased number of patient-facing clinical services.”

Board chair Sandra Gidley confirmed to Pharmacy Magazine: “The board unanimously supported [the] motion reaffirming our opposition to cuts to the community pharmacy contract.”

The board also backed a paper presented by new board member Hemant Patel on the problem of stress in the pharmacy workforce, recognising the additional challenges brought on by the current financial pressures in the NHS. It will now raise the issue with the pharmacy minister.

Board members, including its youngest ever representative, Thorrun Govind (25), were also updated about the work being led by the RPS to develop new standards on polypharmacy.