In their own words – hub-and-spoke consultation responses

Numark

“We are flabbergasted by the statement that 'a collaborative hub will not require additional capital except for the introduction of automation'. [This] suggests a total lack of understanding of the myriad of complexities and costs... It also suggests that the cost efficiencies inherent within the existing arrangements are either misunderstood or being ignored.

“We believe the Department should be very clear what its true rationale is behind hub-and-spoke – the creation of headroom or an attempt to take direct costs out of the system?”

NPA

“We reject this ill-considered, rushed and un-evidenced proposal from the Department of Health, which has the potential to increase costs for small businesses and tax payers.

"DH has failed to provide any evidence for the efficiency and safety claims for an inter-company hub and spoke model."

PSNC

“Given the consultation’s lack of clarity about what is proposed and uncertainty about the models of hub-and-spoke dispensing that might develop, it is difficult to answer the consultation questions.

"PSNC is supportive of the principle that there should be a level playing field between pharmacies, but vigorously opposes the proposals set out in the consultation.”

Pharmacy Voice

“We do not believe the hub-and-spoke model is a fundamental game-changer in terms of the economics of the sector and strongly challenge these assumptions. There is no evidence for the claims of financial efficiency savings.

“We have significant concerns about the potential unintended consequences of moving to industrial-scale centralised dispensing, ranging from the risks of reduced competition within the supply chain... through to the loss of interaction between patients and healthcare professionals.”

Government under pressure to publish hub-and-spoke evidence

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