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.