Political parties

The UK chief pharmaceutical officers (CPhOs) have set boundaries around pharmacist involvement in the assisted dying debate, amid calls for a “clear” role for pharmacists in the Scottish assisted dying bill.

Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan has voiced concerns about the “decline of community pharmacies” in his first parliamentary speech.

A new health and social care committee (HSCC) member has stressed that the committee will ensure the government’s months-long NHS consultation makes “some proper changes” amid concerns that it will just result in “more and more paperwork”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has highlighted the Labour government’s commitment to increasing the role of community pharmacies to MPs.

The previous health secretary has slated Wes Streeting for “casting doubt” on Pharmacy First, while he has asked her “how many pharmacies went bust on her watch”. 

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 parliamentary All-Party Pharmacy Group has relaunched and elected a new chair, it announced last week.

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.

The Liberal Democrat party has called for an expansion of pharmacy “community-based care” and “ambitious change” to NHS policy at its annual conference.  

“There’s not enough being spent” on community pharmacy, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has warned.