Pharmacy

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 8 Jun 2023 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page
The pharmacy inquiry will explore issues impacting different types of pharmacy, with a particular focus on community, primary care and hospital pharmacy services. During a time of change and reorganisation across the health and care system, and following upheaval driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, the inquiry will assess the current … Read more
20 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
10 Jan
2025
Report published
29 May
2024
Report published
26 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
26 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
19 Feb
2024
Oral evidence
19 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
16 Jan
2024
Oral evidence
16 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
21 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
21 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
26 Mar 2024
View on parliament.uk
David Webb · NHS England Dr Amanda Doyle OBE · NHS England Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom MP · Department of Health and Social Care
19 Feb 2024
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Dr Rick Greville · The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Helen Kirrane · Diabetes UK Janet Morrison · Community Pharmacy England Mark Samuels · British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) Mike Dent · Community Pharmacy England
16 Jan 2024
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Deborah Evans · Remedi Health Duncan Rudkin · General Pharmaceutical Council Mark Koziol · The Pharmacists' Defence Association Nicola Stockmann · Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK William Pett · Healthwatch England
21 Nov 2023
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Dr Graham Stretch · Primary Care Pharmacy Association Dr James Davies · Royal Pharmaceutical Society Dr Leyla Hannbeck · Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies Jay Badenhorst · National Pharmacy Association Malcolm Harrison · Company Chemists' Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Pharmacy HC 140 29 May 2024 30 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Medicine shortages risk negating general practice capacity gains from Pharmacy First.
It is also especially worrying that shortages are resulting in patients being directed back into general practice. There is a serious risk that any capacity that general practice gains, through services like Pharmacy First, will be negated by the time … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates that current regulations require exact dispensing for patient safety, notes most prescriptions are generic, and explains that a previous proposal for generic substitution was not progressed due to patient safety concerns.
Department of Health and Social Care
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14 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Pharmacist capacity in community settings limits the expansion of clinical services.
It is clear that pharmacists are already struggling to find the time they need for consultations with patients in often busy community pharmacy environments with competing priorities, despite their ambition to do more. Future service expansion must be conscious of … Read more
Government Response
The government will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan this summer. It is also reforming pharmacist education and training, providing national funding to expand Designated Prescribing Practitioner capacity, funding training for Pharmacy Technician supervisors, and exploring MPharm student placement funding.
Department of Health and Social Care
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17 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Commit to ongoing promotion of Pharmacy First to enhance public confidence and education.
As well as addressing medicine shortages and broadening pharmacists’ ability to offer alternatives, to support public confidence and education, the Government should commit to the ongoing promotion of Pharmacy First beyond what has already been announced. Read more
Government Response
The government will publish a refreshed Long-Term Workforce Plan and is implementing strategies to integrate the pharmacy workforce across Integrated Care Systems. This includes introducing rotations for trainee pharmacists from 2025/26 and providing additional funding for clinical training, including independent prescribing.
Department of Health and Social Care
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22 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Mandate Pharmacy First evaluation assesses digital systems' data sharing for patient safety and care.
We recommend that the ongoing evaluation of Pharmacy First includes an assessment of the extent to which pharmacy and general practice digital systems are enabling the necessary data sharing to protect patient safety and ensure continuity of care.
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that the National Institute for Health and Care Research study evaluating Pharmacy First includes a specific line of inquiry to review the effectiveness of GP minor illness referrals and data exchange between pharmacy and general practice to inform future service developments.
Department of Health and Social Care
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28 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Greater strategic planning needed for the evolving pharmacy workforce and integrated services.
Greater planning and forward thinking continues to be needed around the full pharmacy workforce, accounting for changing roles in the community, increasing demand in hospitals and supporting ICBs to build “one pharmacy workforce” that can be deployed across the full … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the need for greater pharmacy workforce planning, stating that the refreshed Long-Term Workforce Plan, due in summer, will provide a longer-term view. They highlight upcoming rotations for trainee pharmacists from 2025/2026 and ongoing funding for clinical training to support an integrated workforce.
Department of Health and Social Care
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30 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Pharmacy
Ensure national and ICB workforce planning establishes appropriate skill mix in all pharmacy settings.
We further recommend that any workforce planning, be it at a national or ICB level, should ensure the appropriate and safe and mix of skills in all settings, including hospital wards as highlighted by Dr James Davies of the Royal … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that a 'one pharmacy workforce approach' will be supported by national and regional coordination, planning, data, and guidance. They are continuing to explore how to best utilise skill sets in community pharmacy for Pharmacy First and future prescribing services.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 20 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 11
Total 20 recs + 10 conclusions