Three local pharmaceutical committees (LPC) in Merseyside are set to become one organisation after contractors voted to approve the merger.
In an email sent to contractors today, Liverpool LPC said contractors across Liverpool, Sefton and Halton and St Helens and Knowsley gave their approval following special general meetings held in September.
On April 1, 2027, the three LPCs will become one body under the name of Community Pharmacy Merseyside, it added.
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The acceptance of the proposal will see the adoption of the new Community Pharmacy Merseyside Constitution, which states that the committee is required to make representations to the relevant bodies “on matters of importance to pharmacy contractors”.
The Constitution also states that the committee “shall ensure transparency and equality of information and opportunity for all pharmacy contractors in matters relating to the local commissioning of NHS services”, while using “its best endeavours to advise any pharmacy contractor who needs help or assistance on NHS matters”.
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The committee will be made up of elected pharmacy contractors and their representatives, with the Company Chemists’ Association and Independent Pharmacies Association being “entitled to appoint members to the Committee in proportion to the number” of member company contractor premises the body has in the area.
It comes after Community Pharmacy Wales announced that there will be no levy deductions on contractor payments for the next three months in recognition of the “serious financial challenges” facing the sector.
And it follows Green Lane Pharmacy in Liverpool being awarded C+D’s Health Initiative of the Year award in September.
