PSNC CEO briefs MPs on sector challenges and opportunities
PSNC Chief Executive Janet Morrison OBE this week took part in a briefing session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy, in Westminster Hall.
Alongside representatives from AIM, CCA, NPA and RPS, Janet briefed a group of 18 Parliamentarians on the support the sector needs to unlock the full potential of community pharmacy.
She conveyed to MPs the severe financial and capacity pressures that the sector is experiencing, highlighting the fact that, despite an increase in the number of patient consultations taking place in pharmacy, the sector has had a real terms funding cut since 2016.
She also highlighted the pressures that high energy and staff costs as well as high inflation are having on contractors, who unlike virtually every other business, are not able to pass on these costs to their customers.
The event saw Taiwo Owatemi MP elected as the new Chair of the APPG for pharmacy. The following MPs were also elected as vice-chairs/officers of the group:
- Vice-Chair: Lord Clement-Jones
- Vice-Chair: Baroness Meacher
- Vice-Chair: Sir George Howarth, Labour MP for Knowsley
- Vice-Chair: Derek Thomas, Conservative MP for St Ives
- Vice-Chair: Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle
- Officer: Elliot Colburn, Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington
Parliamentarians in attendance were also told about recent PSNC efforts to build support for an English ‘Pharmacy First’ service, and Janet updated MPs about the recent work taking place on developing a vision and strategic options for community pharmacy.
PSNC is continuing to work with the other pharmacy organisations and with LPCs to ensure that MPs and Peers are fully briefed on community pharmacy and are supporting the sector.
Alongside new briefing materials to support this, we are hosting a Parliamentary event later in November where we will be working alongside LPCs and others to update MPs and Peers on the urgent need for more support for the sector, and to demonstrate what pharmacy can do with the right support.
