Prescription discounts for using Pharmacy First, “centralised” pharmacy appointments and “fewer restrictions on medicine” are just a few of the ideas already submitted to the government’s months-long consultation asking the “entire nation” to help shape plans to “overhaul” the NHS.
This week (October 21), the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) launched a “rallying cry” to the nation – both the public and NHS workers – to help “fix” the NHS.
Read more: Pharmacists urged to ‘submit ideas’ for 10-year plan to ‘fix NHS’
Open until the start of next year, it said that “responses will shape the government’s 10-year health plan to fix the broken health service” to be published in spring 2025.
Within days of the announcement some 6,562 idea submissions, which are published publicly, have already been made – many regarding the pharmacy sector.
“Pharmacist millionaires”?
Several consultation submissions proposed changes to how pharmacies should operate.
Michael Ireland suggested a “centralised appointments” system, allowing patients to enter “basic symptoms and then [providing] a list of available appointments” at “any doctor or pharmacy”.
The government should create a “national pharmacy”, according to Liz Kalverda, who explained that if a local pharmacy is “unable to get your medication it gets sent to a national pharmacy [who would source] it for you and [send] it to your address”.
Samuel Wilson suggested that “rather than regional pharmacy purchasing groups, [the country should] have a national pharmacy purchasing group [as] larger buying power will result in lower cost for drug procurement”.
Read more: Kinnock: Pharmacy reimbursement ‘does not aim’ to repay ‘as much’ as drugs cost
William Howlett echoed Wilson’s idea, requesting that the NHS “bulk buy medicines”, adding that pharmacists “should not have to spend time sourcing medicines from various wholesalers”.
He said that “pharmacists should be salaried”, adding that the drug reimbursement system leaves many making “a loss”.
Meanwhile, an anonymous submission simply asked “why are so many pharmacists millionaires” – pondering “how [do they] get that rich selling pills?”
Substitutions, upskilling and 111
Other ideas centred around prescription rules and pharmacy’s place in the wider NHS.
L Tidmore suggested “discounted” prescriptions “to encourage patients to use pharmacies/pharmacy first rather than visiting their GP” – funded from “savings made by reducing GP appointments”.
“Pharmacists should be empowered to make up equivalent doses for controlled drugs using available stock - not be forced to follow prescriptions to the letter,” Finlay Knops-Mckim said.
Read more: Labour promises ‘community pharmacist prescribing service’
Also batting for “fewer restrictions on medicine”, Nathanael Sadgrove said that “requiring a prescription for antibiotics…wasted so many GP appointments and led to [him] being ill for longer”.
“I would have needed fewer antibiotics overall if pharmacists could issue them immediately without prescription,” he added.
And Ellen Chapman suggested a "speak to pharmacist option on 111”.
Chris Devaney argued that changing educational standards that will lead all pharmacy students to “graduate with prescribing [qualifications] from next year” may lead “to a situation where unscrupulous supervisors or companies may hire inexperienced pharmacists for roles that require good experience”.
Read more: Keir Starmer highlights expansion of community pharmacies at PMQs
“By organising and delivering a mass upskilling of pharmacy professionals currently working in acute care - both physical and mental health - [the government could] tap into an experienced and clinically minded workforce,” he suggested.
And Susan Braybrooke, who said she has “worked in pharmacy for three years”, argued that pharmacies should “check authentication” of prescription charge exemptions amid the “abuse of free prescriptions”.
“Counter staff could be utilised here, not as confrontation but to highlight misuse for further investigation,” she said.
Read more: CPE suggests ‘wide range of further services’ in Lord Darzi submission
Meanwhile, Sophie Norris suggested that A&E be allowed to “turn people away” to “go see [a] GP or a pharmacist”.
“You have a little cough or an insect bite? Go to the pharmacy or talk to your GP first instead of sitting in hospital taking up precious time. If after that it’s still a problem, call 111 and determine if it’s worth visiting A&E,” she said.
Consultation concerns
Reacting to the announcement this week, National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Paul Rees warned that “the reality is that many pharmacies could be forced to close down before the 10-year plan is even published in spring 2025”.
Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck urged “the entire pharmacy community to get behind this message and engage with the government’s consultation”.
Read more: Landmark state of the NHS report touts ‘huge potential’ of pharmacists
And Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) England chair Tase Oputu said that “the 10-year health plan must consider how pharmacists can be enabled to support the best use of medicines across the system”.
Last month, Lord Darzi’s landmark independent investigation of the NHS in England was published, touting the “huge potential” of pharmacists.