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Elevating the role of pharmacists underutilise pharmacies. Recognising our
full value means ensuring we are adequately
Let's be honest, pharmacists are an supported and integrated into the healthcare
underutilised resource within the healthcare system. This includes expanding the range of
system. We possess extensive training services we can provide, ensuring we have the
and expertise, yet our full potential hasn't resources needed to deliver high-quality care,
always been acknowledged. By harnessing and essentially, remunerating us appropriately.
pharmacists' expanded prescribing rights,
Labour is acknowledging our significant role in I need the Labour Government to recognise
patient care. This initiative aims to recognise this and I will actively seek opportunities to
our skills and enhance patient care, ensuring engage with policymakers to leverage the
quicker access to necessary treatments. network’s position.
Reframing pharmacy services - a Labour’s manifesto pledge to recognise the
patient-centric approach role of community pharmacies is a positive
step that addresses several critical challenges
As a healthcare professional deeply invested facing the NHS today. By integrating
in the evolution of pharmacy services, I find pharmacists with prescribing rights into a
the current narrative surrounding initiatives prevention-focused healthcare model, and
like Pharmacy First to be somewhat leveraging digital tools, Labour promises a
frustrating and limiting. While it’s true that more efficient, equitable, and responsive
these services help alleviate the pressure healthcare system. This commitment to
on GP practices, framing them solely as community pharmacies not only strengthens
a solution to reduce GP workloads does a the overall healthcare infrastructure but also
disservice to the broader role of community ensures that patients receive high-quality
pharmacies. It’s time we challenge this care at the most appropriate points of
narrow perspective and champion a more service.
comprehensive vision focused on patient
access and outcomes. I feel incredibly strongly that the new
Westminster Government brings with it
At the heart of our mission should always the opportunity to reframe the narrative,
be the provision of the most appropriate particularly in England, around pharmacy
professional care, tailored to the best services. This shift in perspective is not just
interests of our patients. This shift in beneficial for pharmacy teams, but most
perspective is crucial for policymakers to importantly, for the patients they serve. Let’s
understand that pharmacies are not just an embrace this change and work towards
ancillary service. Instead, pharmacies are a more holistic, integrated, and effective
integral to the healthcare system, providing healthcare system.
essential services that complement those
offered by GPs and hospitals. Whilst we await the detail, I believe the
new Government could present a unique
Viewing pharmacies as the "third pillar" of opportunity for community pharmacy, and,
healthcare, alongside primary and secondary as Chairman of Numark, I will continue
care, highlights our critical role in the health to advocate for the support, recognition
system. This perspective underscores that and importantly remuneration community
pharmacies are essential to delivering holistic pharmacy needs and deserves.
healthcare. Whilst I am cautiously optimistic; let’s hope
For policymakers, this reframing is vital. If Labour is ready, willing, and fully prepared to
expanded Independent Prescribing (IP) roles engage. I certainly am.
and services like Pharmacy First continue to
be seen primarily as tools for reducing GP All the best,
workload, we risk policies that underfund or Harry McQuillan
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