PSNC's new chief executive Simon Dukes met with minister Steve Brine on Tuesday (September 4) to “explore [his] priorities and challenges, and to outline the benefits and great potential of community pharmacy”, the negotiator told C+D.

In a tweet, PSNC said it used the meeting to discuss “how community pharmacies can help support the NHS, including the prevention agenda and urgent care”.

Discussing how community pharmacies can help support the NHS, including the prevention agenda and urgent care. Many thanks to @BrineMinister for hosting PSNC CEO Simon Dukes. pic.twitter.com/t0kKAsMMGy

— PSNC (@PSNCNews) 4 September 2018

Mr Dukes suggested to C+D in June that he was keen to make a “fresh start” with the Department of Health and Social Care (DH), after his predecessor Sue Sharpe admitted PSNC’s relationship with the department had gone “backwards” in 2016 after it announced cuts to the sector's funding in England.

PSNC told C+D it is “committed to having a new collaborative, working relationship” with the DH and Mr Brine “is very supportive of pharmacies”.

“Multi-year plan”

“PSNC has discussions, which can include negotiations on specific issues, with officials at the DH and NHS England, as well as with ministers and others, on an ongoing basis,” the negotiator added.

“Our ambition is to work with the government on a multi-year plan to help develop community pharmacy services for the benefit of patients, the NHS and pharmacies.”

Last week, PSNC revealed to C+D that negotiations for a 2018-19 pharmacy funding settlement in England are “already in the diary”.

PSNC would not tell C+D whether this week’s meeting between Mr Dukes and Mr Brine meant these funding negotiations have started.