EXCLUSIVE
 

NHS England has put on hold all decisions about top-up funding for 'essential' low-volume pharmacies until after the election, C+D has learned.

The commissioning body’s area teams are able to extend the funding – designed to support small businesses at least 1km from another pharmacy – for pharmacies in their area, after a national support scheme ended on March 31.

But NHS England told C+D yesterday (April 27) that funding applications for some of the 57 cases that had not been decided by the start of March were still being “considered on a case-by-case basis”. These decisions could require "conversations with commissioners and contractors", which "cannot take place during the pre-election period", it said.

The pre-election period of 'purdah' began on March 30 and prevents local government organisations from making any new or controversial announcements. Pharmacy London chief executive Rehka Shah said she was aware that this meant no more funding applications would be considered until May.

“We knew we wouldn’t get a definite yes or no on any of the applications. There’s about 15 to 18 pharmacies in London who are affected,” she told C+D.

NHS England had told Pharmacy London that any funding contracts that were agreed would be back-dated to April 1, Ms Shah said. “I’m hopeful they will get some [funding], but it might not be long-term contracts. It might just be something to tide them over, there’s no way of telling,” she added.

Contractor Graham Phillips, owner of Manor Pharmacy Group (Wheathampstead) Ltd, said his pharmacy in Elstree was “in limbo” while he waited for a long-term decision from area team. The pharmacy had been moved back onto a standard NHS contract, although it would continue to receive temporary top-up funding for six months, he said.

“I’m assuming that we’ll hear nothing until the period of purdah is over. It should never have got to this stage, it’s not like people didn’t know this was coming,” he added.

Last month, C+D launched a campaign to urge decisions on continued funding for these pharmacies. C+D has drafted a letter for pharmacists and patients to send to their new MP, urging them to persuade their local NHS England area team to quickly reach a funding decision for affected pharmacies in their constituency. 

Are you aware of any small pharmacies in your area awaiting a funding decision?

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