Senior MPs have clashed over the need for national pharmacy services in a debate that cast doubts over the localism agenda.  

Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham and Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement-Jones both questioned the government focus on local commissioning at an all-party pharmacy group (APPG) discussion on the future of pharmacy last week (September 10).  

The MPs argued that national pharmacy services had shown the most success and were the best way of raising public awareness of pharmacy.

"Health and wellbeing boards should decide what these services need to look like rather than having a scheme 'dreamed up' by the DH" Steve Dorrell, Conservative MP and health select committee chair

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But Conservative MP and health select committee chair Stephen Dorrell stuck to the policy and stressed that health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) were best placed to devise tailored pharmacy services.   "Deciding what these services need to look like in local communities is the obvious role of the developing HWBs," he told the debate. He stressed that this strategy would prove more effective than commissioning centralised services "dreamed up by people in Department of Health headquarters Richmond House".

Lord Clement-Jones said he felt "slightly uncomfortable" arguing against localism, but warned against ignoring the pitfalls. "At the moment, enhanced services aren't being taken up in the way they should be," he argued. "I don't think any of us have the complete answer to this but I do think we need to look closely at the evidence."  

Lord Clement-Jones said clinical commissioning groups had been "recalcitrant" in recognising pharmacy's growing role. He argued that a national approach would prove "much more effective" in addressing long-term conditions and minor ailments though pharmacy.  

Mr Burnham also voiced support for a national minor ailments service to build pharmacy's public profile. A standardised service would help position pharmacies as the "first port of call", he stressed.  

"We're all clear that self-care has to be the path of the future," he said. "Maybe it's taking it a step further and saying what basic help could pharmacies give to help people [practise] self-care and better navigate the health system?"  

Mr Burnham also named pharmacy as an integral part of his vision to  create "whole person care" . "The current healthcare system has a tendency to see the immediate problem before it but a real inability to see the whole person," he said. "I have a feeling pharmacy could be the bit that sees the whole person."  

In August, PSNC called for a greater emphasis on national services as part of its vision for the sector.