The story 

You know the drill by now. NHS chiefs tell pharmacists they greatly appreciate their contribution to the health service and call on them to 'engage' more with commissioners. Their efforts are rewarded by a government that is reluctant to commission national pharmacy services, a funding package that stretches pharmacists’ abilities to the limit and patchy recognition from local decision-makers. A special shout-out goes to NHS England for calling on pharmacy to help shape its primary care strategy earlier this year, prompting more than 800 responses, only to backtrack spectacularly. Last month, it said “everything” about its primary care strategy had already been stated in its Five Year Forward View. The document only mentioned pharmacy four times. Are we seeing a pattern here?  

The reaction 

On the whole, the reaction from the sector has been one of anger and disappointment. There have been some success stories – local commissioning of pharmacy to provide NHS flu vaccines is a notable one – and some believe the sector simply needs to talk more to local decision-makers. But many feel disillusioned with the system and overlooked by healthcare bodies. The palpable frustration of the sector is summed up rather nicely by a C+D reader question to pharmacy minister Earl Howe underneath an article in which he praised a pharmacy-led self-care scheme in London: “Then why don’t you roll it out nationally, Mr Howe?” Well, quite.

Your shout. What has been the long-running gripe of the year?

---

“If we were talking about an NHS card game, pharmacy would be playing a 'busted flush'. It’s a shame, really, because pharmacy could do a lot more for health, community and social care if it was given a fair chance by commissioners"

Brian Austen, C+D reader

 

"My biggest challenge to NHS England is to stop saying what [pharmacy] can’t do and say what we can do. It’s really important that they start to talk about the positives of what can be delivered"

Ash Soni, president, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

 

---

 

Buck’s Fizz glass half full:

Facing unprecedented pressures on the NHS, commissioners will see the error of their ways. They will start taking on board pharmacists’ suggestions for how to relieve the burden on the health service and – crucially – back up any new services with cash. Local initiatives that have seen success will be considered nationally.  

Buck’s Fizz glass half empty:

The situation will continue much as before. Pharmacy will struggle to make its voice heard at a local level – let alone nationally – leading to more and more money being wasted on preventable A&E admissions and unnecessary GP appointments. The NHS, no longer able to cope with the strain, will come to a juddering halt. In the ensuing chaos, pharmacists will comfort themselves with the bittersweet refrain of: “I told you so.

 

Christmas disco dedication

Gotta get thru this by Daniel Bedingfield
Hang on in there, pharmacy.