RPS calls for rethink of small pharmacy funding cuts
NHS England must be sure closures of low-volume pharmacies will not affect patients before making cuts, says Royal Pharmaceutical Society president Ash Soni
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has urged NHS England to conduct an impact assessment before terminating top-up funding for low-volume pharmacies.
NHS England needed to work with PSNC to conduct a “full assessment” of every area where cuts to national funding, designed to support small businesses located at least 1km from another pharmacy, might cause a pharmacy to close, said RPS president Ash Soni.
“This will assure patients and the public that appropriate access to pharmacy services is going to be maintained,” he said yesterday (March 11).
Three quarters of the 73 affected pharmacies have been left in the dark over whether they will continue to receive financial support once the national funding - the Essential Small Pharmacies Local Pharmaceutical Services scheme - ends on March 31. NHS England area teams can choose to extend the funding, but only 16 pharmacies had received assurances it would continue, health minister Jane Ellison said last week (March 3).
Mr Soni said NHS England needed to look at how the “provision of person-centred care can be enhanced” at these pharmacies, rather than “standing by” as they were forced to close.
“I am calling on NHS England to pause the withdrawal of small pharmacy funding to allow an assessment of each site,” he stressed.
Last week, shadow pharmacy minister Jamie Reed MP told C+D he was sceptical of Ms Ellison’s claims that patients would still have adequate access to pharmaceutical services if small pharmacies closed.
On Friday (March 6), C+D launched a campaign to secure continued funding for these pharmacies. C+D has drafted a letter for pharmacists and patients to send to their MP, urging them to persuade their local NHS England area team to quickly reach a funding decision for affected pharmacies in their constituency.
