CPE spending on consultancy rose to over half a million pounds in the 2024/25 financial year, its annual report published last week (September 30) revealed.
According to the negotiator’s accounts for the year ending March 31 2025, “consultancy costs” increased by 8% between 2023/24 and 2024/25, rising from just over £479,700 to almost £517,800.
Its report explained that PA Consulting – an “independent consultancy with extensive experience across the government” – acted as “a critical friend before and during” the latest round of contract negotiations.
Read more: CPE hires consultancy to ‘strengthen’ funding negotiations
The firm “supported a review of the committee’s negotiating strategy and approach, assessed NHS policy priorities and service opportunities and provided external feedback to [the CPE] negotiating team”, it said.
CPE’s annual report also revealed that payments due to creditors “within one year” increased by 42% - rising from just under £497,600 in 2023/24 to around £708,400 in 2024/25.
The negotiator yesterday (October 6) told C+D that this increase was due to consultancy fee invoices that were dated late March of this year but were carried forward as creditors and settled in April.
“Secure a sustainable future”
The report also gave an update on implementing changes announced in the 2025/26 pharmacy contract, noting that CPE continues “to meet with DH and NHS England colleagues almost weekly to monitor progress”.
And CPE chief executive Janet Morrison stressed that the body will continue “to fight hard for the sector using every route that [it] can to secure a sustainable future”.
Read more: CPE to change committee structure to ‘better reflect’ pharmacy sector
Meanwhile, the negotiator last week (September 29) announced that “new positions” have been created at CPE to increase its “capacity for in-depth research and for local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) support”.
Dr James Davies was appointed as director of research and insights to help ensure that CPE has a “solid and stable foundation for ongoing evidence-gathering and statistical analysis”, among other things.
And Rebecca Butterworth was announced as the new LPC engagement and support manager to help CPE “maintain strong relationships with LPCs”.
Read more: CPE appoints Professor Dame Jenny Harries as new chair
Also last week (October 1), the negotiator revealed that independent pharmacy owners are “invited to express interest” in joining the CPE committee – with a deadline of Sunday October 19.
“One additional place has been created for the category of pharmacy owners operating between one and nine pharmacy premises,” it said.
It comes after CPE announced it would “make changes to its composition” to “better reflect the make-up” of the sector, including by giving the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) appointment rights to its committee “for the first time”.
