🏥 Community Pharmacies: Devon and the South-west

Westminster Hall

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Community pharmacies in Devon and the South West are facing severe financial strain due to decreased NHS funding and increased costs, leading to reduced services and closures. MPs urged the government to reform the funding model and increase support, highlighting pharmacies’ crucial role in easing pressure on the NHS. The debate emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent further closures and ensure pharmacies can continue providing essential healthcare services. The Minister acknowledged the challenges and committed to starting negotiations early next year to address the sector’s needs.

Summary

  • Community Pharmacies’ Importance: MPs emphasized the vital role of community pharmacies in providing essential health services, particularly in rural areas like Devon and the South-West, where they act as lifelines for local communities.

  • Funding Challenges: There is a significant funding shortfall due to a 30% real terms decrease since 2016, while costs have risen. MPs called for a sustainable, long-term funding model to support pharmacies.

  • Increased Workloads: Pharmacies are handling more prescriptions and services like flu vaccinations and blood pressure checks. The workload is 40% higher than in previous years, putting additional strain on the sector.

  • Closures and Reduced Hours: Over the past few years, many pharmacies have either closed permanently or reduced their hours, leading to a loss of thousands of hours of pharmacy care in the region.

  • Pharmacy First Initiative: Introduced to alleviate pressure on GPs, the Pharmacy First scheme has shown potential but needs to be expanded to include more conditions and better funding to be truly effective.

  • Workforce Shortages: Staffing shortages are a critical issue, with many pharmacies struggling to cope with demand and some even closing temporarily due to lack of staff.

  • Funding Model Problems: The current funding model is flawed, with pharmacies often not reimbursed adequately for the cost of drugs or the services they provide, particularly for non-prescription consultations.

  • Government Response: The Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by pharmacies and expressed the government’s commitment to improving the sector’s situation, including starting contract negotiations early in the new year.

  • Call for Action: MPs urged the government to act quickly to address funding and workforce issues, invest in the sector, and prevent further closures to ensure pharmacies can continue to serve their communities effectively.

Divisiveness

The session shows a consistent level of agreement among the speakers regarding the critical situation of community pharmacies in Devon and the South West. The debate primarily focuses on the need for increased government support and the challenges faced by pharmacies, such as funding cuts, increased workloads, and staff shortages. Various MPs from different political parties (Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservatives) unanimously call for action to prevent further closures and to stabilize the sector. The interventions, including those from Rachel Gilmour, Sarah Dyke, Sadik Al-Hassan, Steve Darling, and others, all reinforce the same message without any notable disagreement. Additionally, the Minister, Stephen Kinnock, acknowledges the issues and expresses the government’s commitment to addressing them, albeit with delays. Therefore, the level of disagreement is minimal, justifying a rating of 1.