The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) has revealed that pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock will tomorrow (October 28) meet with pharmacy bodies at a roundtable event.
It today told C+D that the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) will join with the IPA to meet directly with the minister and discuss their thoughts, challenges facing the sector and possible solutions.
Read more: IPA writes to pharmacy minister as member profits plunge
IPA chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck said that it is “pleased” Kinnock has agreed to meet with the organisations, adding that the roundtable is “an opportunity for the trade bodies to show a united front and highlight the challenges to our sector and the solutions we are seeking”.
It comes after Kinnock attended a parliamentary event hosted by the IPA last week (October 20) to launch its new “shot in the arm” campaign calling for pharmacies to deliver more NHS flu jabs.
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According to the IPA, increasing the proportion of free flu jabs administered in pharmacies from 24% to 50% could free up some 4.5 million GP appointments and improve the “financial viability” of the sector.
The event was sponsored by Labour MP Sureena Brackenridge and attended by “over 80 MPs” from “across the political spectrum” - including Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Independent Alliance, the IPA said.
DH “recognises” sector pressures
Meanwhile, the IPA also revealed that the pharmacy minister has responded to its September letter calling for an “urgent meeting” to discuss findings revealing a 798% drop in the operating profits of some 1,500 pharmacy branches.
In a letter dated October 17, seen by C+D, Kinnock said that he “appreciates” the IPA’s concerns and is “grateful to pharmacy teams across the country for their hard work, professionalism and dedication in supporting patients in their communities”.
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He added that the government “recognises the vital role pharmacies play in our healthcare system” and the “pressures the sector faces” and is “committed to supporting pharmacies to provide the care and support that patients need”.
But the minister reiterated that GPs are paid a higher item of service fee for NHS flu jab delivery than pharmacies because of their “extra responsibilities” such as identifying, inviting and recalling eligible individuals from their patient lists and carrying out health visits.
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Kinnock said that he “[looks] forward to discussing this further” at the roundtable meeting taking place tomorrow.
Speaking exclusively to C+D at the Pharmacy Show in Birmingham earlier this month, the pharmacy negotiator’s chief executive warned that it could be forced to tell the government it must “strip” out “core” services if the next contract does not deliver enough funding.
