EXCLUSIVE

Politicians do not know how to use the untapped potential of community pharmacists, NHS Alliance has said.

The coalition government had not developed “a particularly well-thought-through plan” for the sector during its time in power, NHS Alliance pharmacy advisor Mark Robinson told C+D on Thursday (April 16).

Mr Robinson said he had heard Conservative pharmacy minister Earl Howe explain that the “future was bright” for the sector, but it was a "major problem" that the government had not translated this into policy.

“Everyone recognises there is a group of professionals in community pharmacy who are not being used to their full potential. It is a matter of having a sensible plan to do that without spending a huge amount of money,” Mr Robinson said.

Although the Liberal Democrats used their manifesto to call for community pharmacists to become "the first point of contact for advice on minor illnesses", the Conservative party made no reference to the sector in its own manifesto.

Mr Robinson said he was not surprised the Conservatives had not mentioned the sector because it was “not a big enough issue”. “The larger parties are still battling the same old ground,” he said.

“Community pharmacy has been trying to develop organically and it is about time we had some major politically-led change. This will have to wait [until] the new government,” he added.

Last year, Earl Howe told C+D that his party talked “regularly” with sector representatives and would engage with pharmacists "as a matter of routine" before it published its manifesto.

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