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
8 results
Clear
20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Provide free over-the-counter medication for low-income patients through Pharmacy First scheme.
To avoid patients continuing to use GPs for support that could be offered in a community pharmacy setting because of concerns about the affordability of over-the- counter medication, we recommend that such medication is free for people on low incomes, … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, clarifying that prescription-only medications supplied via Pharmacy First are free for those with existing exemptions. However, they refer to a 2018 report which concluded that providing over-the-counter medication free of charge would not offer value for money.
Department of Health and Social Care
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21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Require Government to detail progress on Pharmacy First digital product rollout and interoperability.
When responding to this report, we ask that the Government sets out what progress has been made on rolling out the full digital product for the documentation of Pharmacy First consultations, including the percentage of community pharmacies that have fully … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation to provide progress updates on Pharmacy First digital capabilities, detailing rollout percentages and timelines for electronic referrals and record updates. However, it explicitly rejects enabling full read/write access to patient records for community pharmacies due to NHS England policy.
Department of Health and Social Care
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23 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Strategic oversight lacking for widespread adoption of automation in hospital medicines management.
There are clearly benefits to be found from using automation and technology particularly within hospital medicines management. These benefits could unlock gains in productivity, improve patient safety and free up pharmacist time to work more directly with patients. There are … Read more
Government Response
The government will consider the recommendation for a more strategic view for how medicines are managed in hospitals as part of the development of the 10 Year Health Plan and how this can be applied to Trusts across England.
Department of Health and Social Care
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24 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Commission independent review into hospital medicines management, focusing on automation and digital systems.
We recommend that an independent review is commissioned to explore hospital medicines management, to report within one year. The review should make recommendations, particularly around how the potential of automation and technological systems like connected medication management could be realised … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to explore opportunities for technology use and consider the recommendation as part of developing a 10-Year Health Plan objective, rather than commissioning an independent review within one year.
Department of Health and Social Care
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25 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Insufficient placements and financial support threaten NHS Long Term Pharmacy Workforce Plan targets.
The lack of access to placements, supervisors and adequate financial support is a serious challenge, which could undermine efforts to meet the pharmacy targets set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. If those ambitions are to be met, … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, committing to publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan this summer and detailing ongoing funding from NHS England to expand supervisor capacity. They also note MPharm students' eligibility for clinical tariff since 2021 and are exploring a consistent policy for placement travel and accommodation costs.
Department of Health and Social Care
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26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Update Learning Support Fund eligibility to include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
We recommend that the list of healthcare professionals able to access the Learning Support Fund is updated to include pharmacists and technicians. (Paragraph 140) Pharmacy 47
Government Response
The government partially accepts, explaining that MPharm students are currently outside the Learning Support Fund's scope due to prior reforms. They commit to consider eligible professions for the fund as part of the refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan and are exploring a consistent policy for MPharm students' placement travel and accommodation costs.
Department of Health and Social Care
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27 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Review ARRS funding criteria within three months to retain community pharmacists.
The criteria connected to Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding should be reviewed within 3 months to understand whether any additional flexibility could reduce the drain of community pharmacists into primary care networks. The Government should write to us with … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating that the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funding is currently under review as part of the consultation on 2025/26 GP contract arrangements, with final details to be published after conclusion.
Department of Health and Social Care
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29 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Pharmacy
Develop and publish an integrated, funded pharmacy workforce plan before Parliament within 12 months.
We reiterate that an integrated and funded workforce plan for pharmacy must be developed and laid before Parliament within 12 months. This should focus upon delivery of the targets set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. The pharmacy … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating it will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan and is committed to growing the pharmacy workforce. NHS England is implementing strategies for independent prescribers, piloting services, and developing a 5-year pharmacy technician development programme.
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