PSNC has promised to call on the government to "make good" its commitment to developing community pharmacy's role, as the second phase of the NHS listening exercise takes off.

PSNC said it was disappointed that NHS reforms had not yet "swept away" all of the barriers to expanding pharmacy's role, but said it hoped the latest phase of the NHS Future Forum's work, announced on August 18 would address this.

The negotiating committee said it would submit evidence to the listening exercise in which it would call for further development of community pharmacy's role. "We want to see a future where pharmacy is the first choice for delivering public health services, where pharmacy is able to own its share of an integrated care pathway and where the NHS is able to celebrate, develop and reward all that is best about community pharmacy," said PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe.

PSNC also welcomed pharmacist Ash Soni's appointment as co-chair to the public health workstream within the exercise, calling it a "welcome recognition of the importance of community pharmacy's public health role".

Pharmacy Voice also welcomed Mr Soni's appointment. Chief executive Rob Darracott said: "This appointment is a vote of confidence in Ash and the fact that a pharmacist has been appointed to this influential position is great news for our sector."

The NHS Future Forum has been asked to report back to ministers on four themes: information, education and training, integrated care and public health.