“We are committed to working with the sector and would encourage all pharmacists to work with us to achieve what we all want – a service fit for the future,” the DH today (November 14) said.
The comment comes as the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) today announced that 99% of England pharmacy owners who participated in its collective action vote approve of limiting pharmacy services unless funding is improved.
Read more: NPA gives DH ‘time to digest’ results of 99% ‘Yes’ collective action ballot
“Unfortunately, we inherited a system that has been neglected for too long and is no longer supporting the pharmacists we need to deliver for patients at a local level,” the DH added.
“Community pharmacy has a vital role to play as we move the focus of care from hospital to the community under the fundamental reforms in our 10-Year Health Plan,” it said.
Contract to come?
The DH told C+D that the previous government did not conclude negotiations with Community Pharmacy England (CPE) on the national funding and contractual framework arrangement – which were originally set to conclude in March.
But it said that it plans to resume talks shortly with CPE.
Read more: Saturday shutdown: Pharmacy protest ballot could see weekend closures
NPA chief executive Paul Rees told C+D that despite previously planning to act on members’ votes before Christmas, any recommendations on collective action will be made in January, should the government fail to make a satisfactory offer.
Asked if the NPA was backtracking, Rees said the delay was “not a backtrack at all, it’s giving the government the chance to digest the results”.
