EXCLUSIVE

Pharmacists doubt a funding package for 2015-16 will be agreed next year, despite PSNC aiming to conclude negotiations by April.

Pharmacist representatives voiced scepticism over PSNC meeting its target and only 12 per cent of readers were optimistic a deal would be concluded next year in a poll that ran from December 12 to 22.

A third of readers thought it was more likely a national minor ailments scheme would be commissioned, 29 per cent were more optimistic over a change in government and a quarter of the 102 respondents thought there was more chance of NHS England becoming more vocal in its support for pharmacy.

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire chief executive Robbie Turner said he wouldn’t be “holding his breath” for a settlement in the new year. “I know that’s what lots of people are hanging their hopes on, but I’m not optimistic,” he told C+D.

Amish Patel, from Hodgson Pharmacy in Longfield, Kent, also said he was “apprehensive” over the funding settlement, after PSNC admitted it was still “nowhere near” reaching an agreement earlier this month.

Hiten Patel, managing director of independent support group PharmaPlus, said the timeframe would depend on who won the general election in May. “Hopefully things will fall into place fairly quickly based on the fact that there might not be any change in who runs the country,” he said.

PSNC attributed the delays in agreeing the last funding package to the NHS restructure last year, which saw responsibility for pharmacy funding transfer from the Department of Health to NHS England.

Regardless of the timescale, locum pharmacist and former Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley told C+D she couldn’t imagine the sector “getting anywhere” with national funding. “Until any government realises that they have to fund the supply side and extra money has to be available for the other services that pharmacy has to offer, we’re just stuck,” she argued.

PSNC announced a £2.8 billion funding package for 2014-15 in September. At the time, pharmacists voiced concerns it would require them to do “more for less”.

How optimistic are you over a funding settlement being reached in the new year?

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