I can’t believe we’re nearing the end of March already. In all honesty talking to local pharmacy owners in my area, it feels that last year was one of the hardest years community pharmacy has ever endured, and everyone is feeling burned out.
Managing clawback has been challenging especially with the looming increase in rates and minimum wage.
Although pharmacy is as busy as ever, the one saving grace is that we aren’t preparing for the new contract in April yet by having to do lots of training as negotiations are only just starting. Though on the flip side, it’s disappointing to say that negotiations have only just started.
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What am I hoping for in the new contract? I want stability. I don’t want any new services, I just want an uplift in pay with no extra work, and I think that feels like the sentiment of every pharmacy owner that I know.
I absolutely know, and see, that services are the future for community pharmacy. I would like to see community pharmacy offering all vaccinations and POCT, this we could probably manage well. I’d even say throw in some more Pharmacy First conditions. But not until April 2027 as we need stability.
In the future I would like to see an independent prescribing service. But not right now. I know that for many this will be controversial, but, in all honesty, there are so many factors that are making me feel this way.
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Funding is the key factor, for too long we’ve been doing things for free or cheaper than other healthcare professionals.
If we are to have a quality prescribing service offered from community pharmacy via the NHS, then we need to be paid appropriately. Only then will the service be of the right quality.
We need the right IT system in place and this needs to be paid for by the NHS, not by the pharmacy owner.
We also need more pharmacies having independent prescribers. To my knowledge we still we still don’t know if the IP university course is going to be free for community pharmacy next year, but to be honest, from what I’m hearing and seeing, it’s not the course that’s the issue, it’s getting a DPP.
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Why will NHSE not set a fee so HCP cannot ask for more than the set fee? I’ve seen on various social media platforms that people are charging between £3,000 to £5,000, and in other areas just £1,500.
The fee needs to be set by NHSE (not just as guidance) so that it is accessible to all legacy pharmacists as a priority. Community pharmacy has shown so many times that they can deliver, and they can do this with pace.
If we focus on IP training from April 2026 to March 2027, we could really set the foundations, that will give the Department of Health and CPE a year to plan a quality independent prescribing service that we could offer in community pharmacy.
I’m not holding my breath though. I’m sure that there will be some shocks with the new contract. I’m just getting ready to brace myself for the panic and stress that the new contract is likely to bring.
Until then we will carry on, preparing for the busy Easter rush that’s coming our way. No chance of enjoying the sunshine we’ve just started seeing!
The identity of Xrayser is confidential