This week in Parliament w/c 10th & 17th March

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy Parliamentary update covering w/c 17th and 24th  March. We return with a host of written questions and spoken contributions, as well as debates on community pharmacy and pharmacy opening hours. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the weeks gone.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Spring Statement – Wednesday 26th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrats) asked Rt. Hon Rachel Reeves about the funding for Pharmacy First and whether this would continue beyond March 2025. In her response, Rachel Reeves noted the extra £20 billion to rebuild the NHS but did not note any specific commitments.

Community Pharmacy – Tuesday 25th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Sarah Hall (Labour Co-op) posed questions on the implementation of hub and spoke models and recent legislative changes.

  • Rishi Sunak (Conservative) spoke on the role of community pharmacies in providing free health checks and services.

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) spoke on the importance of publishing he independent report commissioned by NHS England on pharmacies’ finances, citing calls from the NPA. He also mentioned the recent call from the NPA to advise all its 6,000 pharmacy members to reduce services and hours following the Budget announcements.

Pharmacy Opening Hours – House of Lords – Thursday 20th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • The Lord Bishop of St Albans addressed concerns regarding the publication of the independent economic analysis of pharmacy funding .

  • Lord Kakkar (Cross bench) on the importance of pharmacy services when primary care services are being restricted.

  • Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat and APPG Vice-chair) spoke on the impact of the funding issues for pharmacies, citing a letter from Community Pharmacy England to the relevant Ministers.

Written Questions:

There were 8  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords over the past  two weeks. These can all be viewed on Hansard here.

  • Rebecca Smith (Conservative) on the pharmacy sector in delivering NHS Health Checks

  • Rebecca Smtih (Conservative) on the Pharmacy First scheme

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) on the independent economic analysis into pharmacy funding

  • Yuan Yuang (Labour) on ADHD medicine shortages

  • Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat) on pharmacy opening numbers and closures in recent years

  • Imran Hussain (Bradford East) on hub and spoke models

  • James Naish (Rushcliffe) on pharmacists prescribing powers

  • Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston) on digital patient records

Public Accounts committee inquiry into: Antimicrobial resistance: addressing the risks.

27 March 2025 - Antimicrobial resistance: addressing the risks - Oral evidence

The session follows a report published on the same issue by the National Audit Office (NAO). Reference was made to the role of pharmacies during the session - a full readout will be included in next week’s update.

This week in Parliament w/c 10th March

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update covering w/c 3rd and 10th March. We return with a host of written questions and spoken contributions as well as major structural announcements regarding the NHS. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the weeks gone.

Key announcements

Government announcement that NHS England to be scrapped – 13th March 2025.

In one of the most significant announcements from the Labour Government since its election, the Prime Minister outlined that NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care in a move he says will end bureaucratic duplication, ‘put the NHS at the heart of Government, where it belongs’ and shift money to the front line.

Announced as part of a wider speech on ‘reshaping the state’, Starmer emphasised his belief in the power of an ‘active Government’ while criticising the system Labour inherited, where decisions about the allocation of over £200bn in taxpayers’ money are being made by an arms-length body.

Pharmacy leaders cautiously welcome the move, hoping for increased funding and streamlined decision-making as well as an opportunity to address ongoing financial challenges, but have urged for clarity on how pharmacies will be represented in the restructured NHS. The impact remains uncertain, but the sector is keen to ensure that community pharmacies receive the support they need during the transition.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

NHS England Update – Thursday 13th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Wes Streeting (Labour) spoke on the role for reform community health and with the aim of stabilising the community pharmacy sector.

Business of the House – Thursday 6th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat) spoke on the current shortfalls in community pharmacy and the projected closures.

Department of Health and Social Care – Questions – Wednesday 5th March 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat) spoke on the concern for viability of community pharmacies moving forward, including the Pharmacy First scheme.

  • Ashley Dalton (Labour) responded that the Department has resumed consultation with CPE on 2024-25 and 2025-26 contracts.

Potential closure of Newton Ferrers Pharmacy – Monday March 3rd 2025. Full transcript available here.

  • Rebecca Smith (Conservative) on the impact of a potential closure to a local community pharmacy in the constituency, noting issues on costs and out of date contracts.

Written Questions:

There were 25 written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords over the past  two weeks. These can all be viewed on Hansard here.

This week in Parliament w/c 24th February

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy’s weekly Parliamentary update. Last week, the House of Commons was in recess, but we return with a host of written questions and spoken contributions. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

Announcements

Health and Social Care Committee asks NHS Englandwhen the economic analysis of the community pharmacy sector will be complete - 27th February 2025

The Health and Social Care Committee has requested an update from NHS England on the completion and publication of the economic analysis of the community pharmacy sector in England. This analysis, commissioned as part of the 2022-24 contract, aims to uncover the full economic costs of delivering NHS pharmaceutical services. The committee’s inquiry comes amid ongoing contract negotiations and calls from pharmacy representatives for immediate publication of the review for transparency. NHS England has stated its commitment to publishing the report but cannot provide further details during ongoing consultations with Community Pharmacy England regarding funding arrangements for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Public Services – Wednesday 26th February 2025 – Full transcript available here.

  • Dr Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat) spoke on the crucial role that community pharmacies face and highlighted the risk of reduced hours and temporary closures, particularly in rural regions.

National Insurance Contributions (House of Lords) – Tuesday 25th February – Full transcript available here.

  • Lord Livermore (Labour) spoke on the role of  community-based healthcare and acknowledged ongoing negotiations between DHSC and CPE on the 2024-25 and 2025-26 community pharmacy contractual framework

  • Baroness McIntosh (Conservative) spoke to the role of community pharmacies in providing a vital service for elderly and those who live in rural areas

  • Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative) highlighted the impact that  a £250 million hike in business costs that pharmacists will face under the Government.

Written Questions:

There were 19  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can all be viewed on Hansard here.

 

This week in Parliament w/c 10th February

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

Announcements

On Monday 10th February, the APPG on Pharmacy held an oral evidence session as part of its ongoing inquiry into medicine shortages.

We’d like to thank Mark Dayan (Policy Analyst and Head of Public Affairs Nuffield Trust), Gila Sacks (Medicines Director, Department for Health and Social Care), Martin Sawer (Executive Director, Healthcare Distribution Association UK), Mark Samuels (Chief Executive, British Generics Manufacturing Association) and Colette Marshall (Chief Executive, Diabetes UK) for their contributions to the panel.

Panellists discussed issues and solutions regarding regulatory barriers, system readiness and the merits of national stock monitoring.

The outputs from the meeting, along with findings from the written call for evidence, will inform the APPG’s forthcoming report. Information on anticipated publication timelines will be published in due course.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

HIV Testing Week – 13th February 2025 – Full transcript available here.

  • David Mundell (Conservative) and Mr Alex Barros-Curtis (Labour) on PrEP access issues in high street pharmacies.

Written Questions:

There were 9  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can all be viewed on Hansard here.

This week in Parliament w/c 3 February 2025

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

As part of the APPG on Pharmacy’s ongoing inquiry into medicine shortages, the Group will be hosting an oral evidence session on Monday 10th February. Outputs from the meeting will be shared on the website in due course.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Closure of High Street Services: Rural Areas - Wednesday 5th February – Full transcript available here.

  • James Naish (Labour) spoke on the importance of high street pharmacies in rural areas in delivering care and highlighted the role of Pharmacy First.

National Insurance Contributions  Bill House of Lords – Tuesday 4th February – Full transcript available here:

  • Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) spoke on the issues facing community pharmacy and the detrimental impact that the proposed national insurance contribution changes will have.

Written Questions:

There were 8  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here.

  • Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) on pharmacy staffing retention

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) on Departmental meetings with Pharmacy industry bodies

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative)  on community pharmacy contractual framework negotiations

  • Baroness Bennet (Green Party) and Nick Timothy (Conservative) on medicines access

  • Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party) on National Insurance impacts on pharmacies in Northern Ireland

  • Liam Byrne (Labour) on local funding allocations

This week in Parliament w/c 20th January 2025

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

The APPG’s inquiry into medicines shortages will close this evening. Updates will be posted on the APPG website and social media accounts in due course.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

National Insurance Contributions Bill – House of Lords – 21st January 2025. Full transcript here.

  • Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) on the implications of national insurance contribution increases on community healthcare, noting the additional cost of £12,000 per pharmacy annually.

  • Lord Randall (Conservative) agreed the potentially ‘devastating’ impacts of the rise in national insurance contributions were not fully appreciated by Governments.

Welfare of Doctors – Westminster Hall – 21st January 2025. Full transcript here.

  • Dr Peter Prinsley (Labour) addressed the ‘broken’ NHS and the impact this was having on general practice, dentistry and pharmacy.

 Written Questions:

There were 2  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here.

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) on Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework negotiations

  • Mike Amesbury (Independent) on medicines cost and impact on pharmacies

This week in Parliament w/c 13th January

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy’s weekly Parliamentary update note. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Health and Social Care: Winter Update – 15th January 2025 - Full transcript here.

  • Wes Streeting (Labour) encouraged people to get vaccinated for flu, covid-19 and RSV and that appointments can be booked through local GPs or pharmacies.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency – 16th January 2025 - Full transcript available here.

  • Dr Luke Evans (Conservative) spoke on the role of the MHRA in regulating and promotion of medicines in the UK. Dr Evans noted the impact of online advertisement on medicine availability, noting the recent issues with diabetes medication and GLP1 inhibitors.

Written Questions:

There were 3  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here.

This week in Parliament w/c 6th January

Welcome back to the first APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update of 2025. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Announcements

Government response: Health and Social Care Select Committee report into Pharmacy

On Friday 10th January, the Health and Social Care Committee published the Government’s response to the predecessor committee’s report on Pharmacy and has written back to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, to follow up on particular issues raised in the report and response.

The report, which was published prior to the general election outlined that  the Government must urgently reform the funding framework for community pharmacy if more clinical services are to be delivered and increasing demands for medication are to be met. The report also outlined the Government to address medicine shortages, which they warned risked undermining initiatives such as Pharmacy First by eroding public confidence in pharmacists. 

In its response, the Government set out the following as ambitions:

  1. Pharmacy as a Priority: Despite the report being for the previous government, the current Government will prioritise pharmacy services and aim to address long-standing issues.

  2. 10 Year Health Plan: Following Lord Darzi's investigation, a 10 Year Health Plan engagement exercise has been launched to reform the NHS, focusing on moving healthcare from hospitals to the community, transitioning from analogue to digital, and shifting from sickness to prevention.

  3. Expanding Pharmacy Roles: The government is committed to expanding the roles of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. A refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan will be published in the summer to support this transformation.

  4. Support for Pharmacy First: The government supports the Pharmacy First program and aims to build on it to shift care from hospitals to the community and from treatment to prevention.

In response, the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, Layla Moran stated: “We agree with our predecessor Committee that pharmacies have fantastic potential to improve access to healthcare and alleviate pressures on the wider health service. We would urge the Government to be bold and ambitious when setting out its vision for the role that community pharmacies could play and believe that they should play a prominent role in the delivery of the Government’s ambition to shift care from hospitals into the community.”

Further information can be found here.

Contributions

Oral Contributions

Business of the House - Thursday 9 January – Full transcript here.

Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat) addressed the concerns about the long-term viability and sustainability of pharmacy, noting Pharmacy First, funding constraints and medicines access issues.

Engagements -  Wednesday 8 January – Full transcript here.

Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat) raised issue of her constituent who is struggling to keep his pharmacy open and using personal savings to meet price demands and maintain service.

Topical Questions – Tuesday 7 January 2025 – Full transcript here.

Tristan Osborne (Labour) asked the Minster for Care whether there were plans to review and expand the Pharmacy First scheme.

Written Questions:

There were 13  written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here.

 

 

This week in Parliament w/c 16th December 2024

Welcome back to the APPG on Pharmacy weekly Parliamentary update. Set out below is a summary of key parliamentary and policy developments in community pharmacy from the week just gone. The House of Commons is now in recess until 6th January 2025.

Key Parliamentary Activity

Oral Contributions

Winter Preparedness – 18th December 2024 – Full transcript available here.

Lalya Moran (Lib Dem) spoke on the role of pharmacies in providing community health services and the need for greater push for GP referrals.

Lincoln Jopp (Conservative) referenced the cost of winter vaccinations

Mike Martin (Lib Dem) addressed the role that pharmacies play in providing community-based health services

Community Pharmacies: Devon and the South-west – 17th December 2024 - Full transcript available here.

  • Numerous contributions, including from Chair of the APPG on Pharmacy, Steve Race MP, regarding the merits of pharmacy in supporting patients with a range of services and Vice-chair, Sadik Al-Hassan MP, on the critical role of community pharmacies, the challenges they face due to funding cuts and Brexit, and calls for immediate funding and reforms to stabilse and modernise the sector.

Written Questions:

There were 7 written questions relating to Pharmacy answered in the House of Commons  and House of Lords this week. These can be viewed on Hansard here:

APPG on Pharmacy - Meeting - 17th December 2024

On Tuesday 17th December 2024, we held the first of two meetings on the ‘Future of Community Pharmacy’.

Our Chair, Steve Race MP, Vice-Chairs, Sadik Al-Hassan MP and Lord Scriven, as well as members of the Group heard from Rebecca Curtayne (External Affairs Manager Healthwatch), Alex Morton (Group Director for Primary Care & Community Services Delivery and Support, NHS England), Dr Ankit Kant (Member, General Practitioners Committee England, British Medical Association (BMA)) at the meeting.

The outputs from this meeting will feed into the development of a recommendations led policy paper, setting out a vision for community pharmacy. This paper will be published following the second meeting on this topic in the new year.