Sajid Javid pledges to ‘start with pharmacy’ in primary care overhaul
Pharmacy will be first on the list of the government's planned reforms to primary care, the health secretary Sajid Javid has announced.
Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo in Liverpool today (June 15), Mr Javid said that he is "grateful to all primary care staff who make a difference to millions everyday".
But he added that the current model for primary care is not working and the government will start reforming it, "starting with pharmacy".
The government "will be setting out our plan soon", he added.
Primary care model "not working"
While primary care forms the "front door to health and care", the current model is "not working", Mr Javid told delegates.
"That won't be a surprise to you," he remarked. "I know. You know. Patients know. And everyone working in primary care knows: we need a plan for change."
C+D asked the Department of Health and Social Care to elaborate on what changes Mr Javid envisages for the sector and whether community pharmacy will feature in his department's upcoming 15-year NHS workforce strategy.
However, the DH has nothing further to add on today's announcement, it told C+D.
Give pharmacy 10-year plan, urges Numark
Managing director of the independent support group Numark Jeremy Meader branded Mr Javid's pledge a "welcome announcement".
"We hope to see a comprehensive 10-year plan from Mr Javid that lays out a full range of patient services we can expect pharmacies to deliver in the coming years," he said.
"By shedding light on the strategy for patient services, community pharmacy teams can plan ahead to see how they can best serve their communities, make the necessary investment and further establish themselves as the vital third pillar of the NHS."
