“The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has entered into consultation with CPE regarding the 2024/25 and 2025/26 funding contractual framework,” it today (January 28) announced.
“A letter signalling the start of the consultation was sent to CPE on Monday,” it said.
Read more: IN FULL: NPA sets out five contract demands - or collective action
“The discussions will set the future direction for community pharmacy as it plays a vital role in supporting delivery of the reforms set out in the government’s plan for change,” it added.
“Moving the focus of care from hospitals into the community is one of the three core shifts outlined in the 10 year health plan, which will be published later this year,” it said.
“Consider very carefully”
In a joint statement from the DH and CPE, pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock said that pharmacists “have a vital role to play [in the] shift from hospital to community”.
“I am committed to working closely with CPE to agree a package of funding that is reflective of the important support that they provide to patients up and down the country,” he added.
“I am confident that together we can get the sector back on its feet,” Kinnock said.
Read more: Contract chaos: NPA issues pharmacy collective action ultimatum
CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said that the negotiator is “relieved that discussions on the arrangements for community pharmacy are now commencing”.
“CPE will consider very carefully if the proposals that the government is putting on the table address the severity of the funding crisis in community pharmacy,” she added.
Read more: Streeting and Kinnock say it will be a ‘New Year’ start for pharmacy contract negotiations
“We recognise that pharmacies are under pressure,” NHS England (NHSE) primary care national director Amanda Doyle said.
“We are committed to working with the sector and government to ensure that patients can continue to receive high-quality care,” she added.
Contract chaos
The negotiations, which were originally set to conclude in March, come amid threats of collective action from pharmacy bodies over funding.
Earlier this month, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) laid out “five key tests any funding package from government must meet” to avoid historic collective action from pharmacists.
Read more: CPE ‘united in anger’ as pharmacy contract negotiations ‘stuck’
At the time, NPA chair Nick Kaye said that “patience with the failure to commence consultations on the current year’s settlement has worn paper-thin”.
It came after the NPA announced in November that 99% of England pharmacy owners who participated in its collective action vote approve of limiting pharmacy services unless funding is improved.
But NPA chief executive Paul Rees told C+D in November that despite previously planning to act on members’ votes before Christmas, any recommendations on collective action would be made in January, should the government fail to make a satisfactory offer.