Funding cut delay a ‘relief to contractors’
Pharmacy bodies have described the minister’s announcement of delays to the £170 million cut to funding in England as a “relief for contractors”.
In a pre-recorded video address to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) annual conference in Birmingham yesterday (September 5), pharmacy minister David Mowat said delaying the cuts beyond their original October start date was necessary to make sure the Department of Health (DH) was making the “correct decision”.
Mr Mowat revealed in his speech that he met with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) last week, and chief executive Sue Sharpe said the negotiator is “very pleased that the minister has decided to review the [funding] proposals set out in December 2015”.
“Of course the work does not stop now,” Ms Sharpe added. “We still have a case to make for the future of community pharmacy and PSNC will continue to put evidence and arguments to policy makers.”
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) focused on Mr Mowat’s reference to its anti-cuts petition as “an accolade” to the way pharmacy is “regarded amongst communities”.
“It’s a remarkable achievement to have shifted the ground so far from the dire position we face at the start of the year,” said NPA chairman Ian Strachan.
“David Mowat should be congratulated for taking our advice to pause and reflect, and not simply wave through the discredited policy proposals that he inherited,” Mr Strachan added.
Pharmacy Voice chief executive Rob Darracott said he is “delighted the minister agrees with the principles of our [Community Pharmacy] Forward View [document]”.
“The delay is a clear recognition of the depth of public concern about the proposals, as well as the interventions made by so many of the minister’s colleagues,” he said.
The Twitter reaction
A range of individuals linked to the sector, including all-party pharmacy group chair Kevin Barron MP and pharmacy accountancy expert Umesh Modi, were quick to share their own views.
Great news for the million plus people who signed the petition. Now to ensure they are scrapped rather than delayed. https://t.co/S1KS2si0Ta
— Kevin Barron MP (@KevinBarronMP) September 5, 2016
Glad that hear that pharmacy cuts will not proceed from October. Saving no of closures and staff redundancies. Common sense has prevailed.
— Umesh Modi (@umeshmodi24) September 5, 2016
Disappointed I couldn't attend #RPSConf today but looking forward to working with pharmacists in the coming months pic.twitter.com/wnzigjPqkR
— David Mowat MP (@mowat4ws) September 5, 2016
@CandDJamesW @mowat4ws are cuts being delayed or merely delayed implementation, i.e will they still be backdated to April
— (((alun phillips))) (@ghostocain) September 5, 2016
What is your reaction to the news of the delay?