Funding

The minimum number of Pharmacy First consultations pharmacies must complete to qualify for a monthly payment has been reduced until March next year, NHS England has revealed.

Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock said that the government viewed resolving community pharmacy funding as “a matter of urgency”.

I know you are ambitious for change, and very keen to make better use of your skills, to better your communities. You have shown time and again how you can deliver, and we are determined to provide the support you need.

Members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) have urged the government to “get behind” community pharmacies, provide the sector with a “modest” investment and get pharmacies to “do more”. 

The minimum number of Pharmacy First consultations pharmacies will have to complete in October to qualify for a monthly payment has been reduced from 30 to 20, the negotiator has revealed. 

A C+D snapshot poll has revealed that an overwhelming majority of "small" community pharmacy contractors and workers support work to rule protest action just days after Wes Streeting slammed the NPA for "sabre-rattling" over collective action.

Funding for Scottish pharmacies will increase by some £13.2 million, with an additional £10 million in guaranteed reimbursement, the Scottish negotiator has revealed. 

The health secretary has criticised “threats of collective action” from the NPA as the pharmacy body has begun balloting its members on work to rule action to secure a better funding deal for community pharmacy.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) cannot say when it will resume talks on the community pharmacy contractual framework for 2024/25.

Community pharmacies have joined together to take part in the NPA’s second day of action to highlight the sector’s crisis as the membership body delivers a 350,000 signature-strong petition to the government.