Plans for pharmacies to deliver more NHS care at risk as hundreds close

MPs have been warned that plans for pharmacies to deliver more NHS care are at risk amongst widespread closures.

The Government and NHS England would like pharmacies to ease GP pressure by conducting more health checks and prescribing some medicines themselves.

However, the Company Chemists’ Association have said a lack of staff and funding could scupper the move, with chief executive Malcolm Harrison warning that there has been a net loss of 1,008 pharmacies in England since 2015.

The CCA have also warned that the NHS pharmacy budget has been cut in real terms since 2015-16, leaving each pharmacy £67,000 worse off every year, limiting their ability to hire staff and expand their service.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said “Community pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system, backed by £2.6billion a year.

“We have announced £645million in funding to support community pharmacies to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, without the patient needing to see a GP.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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