As part of the inquiry, the group is encouraging pharmacists and other healthcare stakeholders to share their views, which will inform the development of a manifesto that aims to unlock the potential of pharmacy and further improve patient outcomes.
Pharmacy crucial during pandemic
APPG chair Jackie Doyle-Price highlighted the crucial role played by community pharmacy during the first stages of the pandemic.
“We know that pharmacy teams are incredibly valuable to both the communities they serve and the wider NHS, and this has been made all the more obvious by the way they have responded to the pandemic,” Ms Doyle-Price said in a statement.
"Pharmacy has proven itself an integral part of the NHS family and has shown how much more it could do if given the right support. As we look beyond COVID-19, we are seeking views on what the future of pharmacy looks like and how pharmacy could be better integrated with the wider NHS,” she continued.
The role of pharmacy in delivering primary care and vaccinations
Pharmacy workers and other stakeholders can share their views on pharmacy's role in the delivery of primary care, as well as an increased range of vaccinations.
They can then help identify what community pharmacy can do to support the prevention agenda, as outlined in the NHS long-term plan.
Thoughts are also sought on how pharmacy can be used to assist patients with the management of their long-term conditions and how the services provided can be better integrated into NHS care pathways.
The potential of newer services, such as the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service and the Discharge Medicines Service, will also be investigated.
Moreover, the APPG is welcoming opinions with regards to the role of the pharmacy workforce, including thoughts on recruitment, retention, and the professional development of the pharmacy profession, including greater use of independent prescribers.
How to share your views
The APPG will hold several oral evidence sessions and use the responses of these to inform its manifesto on the vision for pharmacy.
The call for written evidence launches today (September 13) and closes at 5pm on November 1. The APPG will be accepting submissions via contact@pharmacyappg.co.uk.
