EXCLUSIVE

Pharmacists in Wales should be "realistic" about the chances of funding cuts, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in Wales.

While the organisation has received no confirmation that the country will face a similar 6% reduction to the global sum planned for England, pharmacists should be aware that there are cuts to “every department in the NHS”, RPS director for Wales Mair Davis told C+D last week (January 14).

“It’s a watch and wait situation. But what we need to do is [offer] solutions [if cuts are made],” she said.

Welsh government "monitoring" situation

The Welsh government told C+D it will "consider the implications" that funding cuts in England will have on pharmacists in its country.

The government is "monitoring the situation" in England, where pharmacy funding was slashed by £170 million in December, it said yesterday (January 18).

No sign of policy change

Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) told C+D that, after meeting with government officials, it has “no reason to believe the Welsh government will change its policy".

The representative body has arranged to discuss the implications of the English cuts with Welsh health minister Mark Drakeford, it added.

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