Pharmacists and healthcare leaders from across the health sector will be discussing pharmacy's role in public health at the C+D Senate today (November 6).

The 11 senators – including NHS England's head of public health commissioning Fiona Harris; lead of the healthy living pharmacy pathfinder work programme Deborah Evans; and Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire chief executive Robbie Turner – will discuss whether pharmacists are providing enough public health services.

They will also debate which services pharmacists should deliver, the role of healthy living pharmacies and how the sector can ensure it gets its services commissioned. 

The 11 senators include lead of the healthy living pharmacy pathfinder work programme Deborah Evans (pictured); NHS England's head of public health commissioning Fiona Harris; and community pharmacy Yorkshire chief executive Robbie Turner

More on the C+D Senate on public health Lack of funding is pharmacy's top worry, survey reveals The Senate live Are public health services financially viable?

The event comes as the C+D pre-senate survey revealed last week (October 29) that a lack of funding was the biggest barrier to pharmacy providing high-quality public health services. Understaffing and lack of recognition from central government and local authorities followed closely behind in the list of gripes. The debate will kick off at 12.30pm and you can follow it live on C+D's website  We also want hear your comments, questions and experiences on public health. Tweet us your views to @chemistdruggist using the hashtag #CDsenate and find out how the Senators respond to your thoughts during the debate.

The C+D Senators:

Robbie Turner – chief executive, Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire

Deborah Evans – lead, healthy living pharmacy pathfinder work programme

Paul Mayberry – managing director, Mayberry Pharmacy, south Wales

Raj Jain – pharmacist, WR Evans

Cathryn Brown – teacher practitioner, UCLan and locum pharmacist

Claire Hiscott – Conservative councillor, Bristol and pharmacist

Richard Parish – chair, pharmacy and public health forum, and executive director, Public Health England advisory board

Fiona Harris – head of Public Health Commissioning, NHS England, Surrey and Sussex area team

Ash Pandya – chief executive, Essex LPC

Clara Mann – national sales manager, Actavis

Mike Keen – chair, Pharmacy London

What do you think about pharmacy's role in public health? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook