EXCLUSIVE

The NHS reforms have not improved the sector's position in the health service in England, pharmacists have reported one year after the changes came into effect.

Three-quarters of 140 respondents to a C+D survey said the reforms had not led to the profession playing a bigger role in the NHS or receiving more recognition from the rest of the health service.

Pharmacy bodies agreed that the changes to the NHS, which came into effect under the Health and Social Care Act on April 1, 2013, had made little impact on the sector so far, although they expected this to change when NHS England published its primary care strategy in the autumn.  

C+D's findings reflect the experiences of IPF members, who are still confused about how to get services commissioned in the new NHS, said Independent Pharmacy Federation chief executive Claire Ward	More on the NHS reforms Health and wellbeing boards failing to work with LPCs Expect more cuts to NHS services, LPCs warn NHS England calls on pharmacists to share thoughts on future of health system
	Respondents to the survey, which ran for five weeks in February, were divided over the overall effects of the reforms, with 41 per cent optimistic they would improve the health service in the long-term, despite admitting they had not seen any difference yet.

A third felt the changes had "only brought additional red tape and bureaucracy" and 19 per cent were concerned they would damage the NHS in future.

Only a quarter of pharmacists thought the reforms had had a big impact on the sector over the past year, compared with more than half who expressed hope they would have a significant effect in a similar C+D survey a year ago.

Fears that the reforms would damage pharmacists' relationship with GPs appeared to be unfounded. Only 6 per cent said this had happened in their area, compared with 31 per cent who raised this concern last year.

Independent Pharmacy Federation chief executive Claire Ward said the findings reflected the experiences of IPF members, who were still confused about how to get services commissioned in the new NHS. "It's a huge disappointment when so much money and resource has been put into the reorganisation. There's a missed opportunity to fully engage pharmacy [with] these NHS structures," she told C+D.

But Royal Pharmaceutical Society English Pharmacy Board chair David Branford said pharmacy seemed to be "holding its own" in the reformed NHS.

"The number of pharmacists employed and the number of pharmacies appears to be relatively stable, with even signs of a slight increase," he said.

PSNC head of NHS services Alastair Buxton agreed the new NHS had "not brought great change for the sector", but said he was hopeful that NHS England's Call to Action consultation, which ended last month, would lead to change.

"Community pharmacy did an impressive job telling NHS England how much it has to offer patients and the health service, so we hope we will hear more about how the national commissioner intends to expand pharmacy's role when it publishes its primary care commissioning strategy later in the year," he told C+D.

Click here for a breakdown of survey results.

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