The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has made it clear in all discussions with Government that it thinks the 6 per cent cut in funding is shortsighted, says Sandra Gidley, chair of the English Pharmacy Board.

It is undoubtedly a difficult time for community pharmacy at the moment following the announcement of a 6 per cent cut in funding. I have real concern how this will affect staffing levels and opening hours of pharmacies, which will make it harder for pharmacists to care for patients and the public.

The cut comes just as unprecedented pressures on other parts of the NHS mean that the community pharmacy network is needed now more than ever as part of a fully integrated healthcare service to meet increasing patient needs. We are stressing the vital importance of patients’ access to community pharmacists to help them stay well, manage health conditions and receive treatment for minor ailments.

I am also pressing the case for the vital role of community pharmacists in ensuring patient safety and care and have expressed particular concern about the proposed direct delivery of medicines to patients’ own homes, which has been put forward as part of this drive to cut costs. I am ensuring the Government is fully aware of the vital role of pharmacist face-to-face patient conversations and the potential danger of any loss of opportunity for these healthcare interventions.

In all of our meetings with the Department of Health, the RPS is presenting a robust argument for the value community pharmacists add to the NHS. We are pressing the Government to realise its stated ambition to put pharmacy at the heart of the health service.

Pharmacy integration fund

Part of our focus is making the case for using the proposed Pharmacy Integration Fund to increase services from pharmacists in areas such as urgent and emergency care, treatment of long-term conditions, public health and providing services and support to care home residents.

We are looking very hard at all funding opportunities and we will be working with our colleagues in PSNC, the NPA and Pharmacy Voice to ensure community pharmacists are able to access these. I want all pharmacists to have an opportunity to bid for additional funding equally, whether they are owners of independent pharmacies or employees of large multiples.

The community pharmacy network is needed now more than ever