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Lessons COVID really brought the work of Disastrous budget
community pharmacy teams to
Richard observed that the recent
from the fore. During the pandemic’s budget did little to address rising
first year, March 2020 to March
costs, indeed added to them,
COVID 2021, Richard witnessed an especially for employers with increases
extraordinary response from
in the National Living Wage and
pharmacy teams across the UK.
In his role as Pharmacy Magazine NI employer contributions. While
editor, he observed their tireless efforts Community Pharmacy England has
a clear view of all the challenges
to deliver critical services. facing the sector, he felt the outlook
He described it as both “the best remains deeply uncertain, particularly
of days and the worst of days” for in England, where substantial
pharmacy, a time of huge challenges negotiations hadn’t yet started.
but also remarkable unity and effort. Even if a swift agreement on funding
Watching his wife, a community was reached, it would be some
pharmacist, work late into the night, he time before any money ended up in
worried about the sector’s resilience, contractors’ bank accounts, which
yet was inspired by how steadfastly concerned him given the perilous
everyone pulled through. Reflecting on it, situation facing many pharmacy
Richard believes the pandemic elevated businesses. Richard expressed
pharmacy’s profile in the public eye. disappointment with the new
Harry went on to ask whether Westminster government’s response,
Richard thought it was possible to noting the lack of actionable
capitalise on that and use it within support. In contrast, he viewed the
community pharmacy. situation in Scotland and Wales more
“I’m a bit conflicted on this. I mean, optimistically, given their funding
I’m a naturally optimistic person and uplifts and clearer direction of travel
I think a lot of the building blocks for from a policy perspective. Resolving
developing pharmacy’s role are slowly England’s funding issues remains
falling into place that mean a brighter critical, he maintained.
future for the sector, certainly in terms Prescribing differences
of service expansion and from the Harry asked: “It’s interesting you
point of view of clinical development. mentioned Scotland and Wales. If you
COVID played a big role in that. And bring in the independent prescribing
lots of things are happening around aspect, with these countries going
service expansion, use of technology, down the generalist route, we’ve
data, and things like that. There is got in England the pathfinder sites,
clearly an ambition on the part of the which are maybe more specific about
sector and profession to do more. But therapeutic areas. Any thoughts on
the funding situation makes it so, so that?”
difficult. I feel there are troubling and
worrying times ahead. “Harry, you will be very familiar with the
“The precarious funding situation, way the prescribing service in Scotland
has evolved over many years into
certainly in England, is showing no signs what it is today,” Richard responded.
of easing. And until the sector has fair “In contrast, England is playing catch-
funding and the stability that it so up with a more complicated model.
desperately needs, some of the more However, we don’t really know what
exciting service developments just are the service might look like until the
not possible as pharmacy owners are pathfinders are evaluated.
unwilling or unable to invest in their
businesses. The future is too uncertain. “The thing that strikes me is, in Wales
It’s so tough out there. We are hearing and Scotland, it was identified early
on where the gaps in care and service
heartbreaking stories virtually every provision were. This allowed community
week about the difficulties pharmacy pharmacy prescribing to plug into those
owners are facing and the measures gaps and shift demand. There is a
they are having to take just to keep clear view of where prescribing fits into
the doors open and their heads above primary care in Wales and Scotland,
water. It’s become about survival – and whereas in England, the model has
community pharmacy should be about been flipped completely on its head,
so much more than just survival. Yet with new pharmacists as independent
sadly it’s exactly that, a fight to survive prescribers at the point of registration.
for many. Patient care can only suffer.”
10/12/2024 09:23:10
P4403.59-V59_Numark Pharmacy Magazine Jan 25 PRINT.indd 28
P4403.59-V59_Numark Pharmacy Magazine Jan 25 PRINT.indd 28 10/12/2024 09:23:10
