Cormac Tobin, managing director of Lloydspharmacy's parent company Celesio UK, said NHS England’s decision to back a sore throat ‘test and treat’ service first piloted by Boots in 2014 shows “some joined-up thinking”.

However, there must be “new money for pharmacy” to help fund the project, “not more tinkering with the global sum”, he warned yesterday (November 14).

“Pharmacists are in an ideal position to conduct this type of service and the benefits are considerable in terms of taking pressure off GPs, not to mention the effect on antibiotic resistance,” he said.

“But it will only happen if the government backs up its rhetoric with a proper — and properly funded — plan,” Mr Tobin added.

PSNC reaction

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) echoed Mr Tobin's concerns around how the roll-out will be funded.

PSNC director of NHS services Alastair Buxton stressed: “No central funding is being made available to commission this service. Its adoption will be subject to local decisions made by clinical commissioning groups."

Mr Buxton said the announcement “runs contrary to the funding cut”, which will see a 12% drop in the sector’s funding from December and “will adversely affect the ability of pharmacies to provide patient care”. 

Get an insider's view on the funding cut negotiations in C+D's exclusive podcast interview with PSNC representative Mark Burdon