The government has still not released vital information on the pharmacy funding cuts despite a looming deadline for its consultation with pharmacy bodies.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) is still waiting for the detail it needs to make an "informed response" to the 6% cut in England, it said on Tuesday (March 8).

The DH's consultation on the cuts with PSNC and other pharmacy bodies is due to end in less than two weeks, on March 24. The government will then make a final decision in April on how to implement the cuts.

While the negotiator has made some progress in talks with the Department of Health (DH), it is still trying to "tease out" what the government's proposals actually mean, it said.

"We put some proposals to the DH and their response to that has been, well, they are reiterating their general position," PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe revealed at an all-party pharmacy group meeting. 

PSNC warned last month that it was not "getting far" in talks with the DH. It was still waiting for an "enormous amount" of information on the government funding cuts, it said.

"Tremendous support" from MPs

PSNC has received "tremendous support" from MPs in all political parties, Sue Sharpe said this week.

It also has the backing of GPs, she said, who feel it would be a "disaster" if pharmacies closed because of the cuts.

How are you preparing for the funding cuts?

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