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Pharmacy First
31 January 2024
Lead MP
Andrea Leadsom
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSTaxationEmploymentScience & Technology
Other Contributors: 33
At a Glance
Andrea Leadsom raised concerns about pharmacy first in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Pharmacies are central to communities and offer accessible primary care services. Under the Conservative government, the number of registered pharmacists has increased by 61% since 2010. The Pharmacy First service will enable community pharmacies to supply prescription-only medications for seven common conditions, freeing up GP appointments and reducing unnecessary A&E visits. Over 95% of pharmacies in England have signed up for this initiative. It also includes investments in digital infrastructure and aims to reduce health inequalities by providing better access to care in deprived areas. The service aligns with the government's plan to make healthcare more accessible, simpler for staff, and fairer for all.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
Labour supports the initiative but raises concerns about the closure of pharmacies under Conservative leadership. Inquires about delays in training for pharmacists and issues with IT integration, particularly GP Connect system.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of training but does not provide specific details on timeline or current status of GP Connect.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
Asks about the government's plan for integrating independent prescribers and whether they agree with accelerating the roll-out of community pharmacist prescribing service.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the role of pharmacists in managing long-term conditions but does not explicitly commit to accelerating the roll-out.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
The MP thanked the Minister for advance sight of her statement, praising pharmacists' role in the NHS. She acknowledged Labour's support for this initiative but highlighted closures and GP cuts under the Conservatives. She questioned the delay in IT integration and asked about training times for new services.
Minister reply
The Minister replied that the first Pharmacy First appointment occurred at 8:30 AM, addressing concerns about immediate service availability.
Question
The MP expressed her support for the initiative and highlighted its importance in providing quicker access to necessary care.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked her colleague for contributing to the project's success, emphasising pharmacists' role as first-line defenders against infections.
Question
The MP welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about capacity and drug access issues affecting pharmacists.
Minister reply
The Minister responded that most of the 14,000 licensed medicines are in good supply, with alternatives sourced when necessary.
Question
The MP welcomed the initiative and highlighted the need for investment in technology and workforce to realise its full potential.
Minister reply
The Minister agreed on the importance of investing in technology and workforce, noting a 61% increase in registered community pharmacists since 2010.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
The MP welcomed Pharmacy First but raised concerns about pharmacy closures in her area and suggested establishing a school of pharmacy.
Minister reply
The Minister expressed willingness to discuss ideas for new schools and highlighted the high number of community pharmacies across England.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
The MP welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about pharmacy coverage in larger population centres like Harwich.
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted pharmacists' extended opening hours, providing weekend accessibility.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
The MP welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about ongoing pharmacy closures and asked about steps to prevent further closures.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged that while there have been net closures, community pharmacies are well-served across England.
Heather Wheeler
Con
South Derbyshire
Question
Congratulates the Minister on bringing in this initiative and praises local community pharmacies.
Minister reply
Thanked her hon. Friend.
Barry Sheerman
Lab
Haringey and Wood Green
Question
Suggests that the statement is a distraction from real health service issues such as GP shortages.
Minister reply
Stated that more deprived areas are better served by community pharmacies.
Dean Russell
Con
Watford
Question
Champions local pharmacies and asks for assurance on public awareness of the new service.
Minister reply
Confirmed a significant communications package is planned, beginning immediately.
Ben Bradshaw
Lab
Exeter
Question
Asks about community pharmacy closures under the Conservative Government and the reasons behind them.
Minister reply
Noted a 61% increase in registered pharmacists since 2010 with plans for further increases.
Priti Patel
Con
Witham
Question
Compliments the Minister and asks about funding issues and NHS tariff payments.
Minister reply
Explained that £2.6 billion is contributed to community pharmacy with an additional £645 million for Pharmacy First.
Sarah Jones
Lab
Croydon West
Question
Raises concerns about local pharmacies on the brink of closure despite welcoming the announcement.
Minister reply
Offered to read a letter from them and highlighted that Pharmacy First offers significant support.
Edward Timpson
Con
Eddisbury
Question
Asks for reassurance on pharmacists' clinical competence and liability issues.
Minister reply
Assured that pharmacists are highly skilled and fully equipped to meet their new prescribing role demands.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
Welcomes the initiative but raises concerns about expectations of patients and training for denying unnecessary prescriptions.
Minister reply
Clarified that pharmacists will prescribe for seven common conditions, making plenty of referrals to GPs.
Jeremy Quin
Con
Horsham
Question
Welcomes the scheme and asks about resourcing and training issues in his constituency.
Minister reply
Agreed to further discussions on these matters with him.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Asks if there is capacity for a UK-wide roll-out of Pharmacy First similar to Northern Ireland’s scheme.
Minister reply
Expressed hope that the Stormont Assembly would enable such a scheme in Northern Ireland.
Robert Buckland
Con
South Swindon
Question
Welcomes pharmacies but mentions challenges with licensing and transfer of services.
Minister reply
Offered to hear more about these issues from him.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Raises concerns about pharmacy closures in her constituency and their impact on local residents, asking for a review.
Minister reply
Acknowledged Pharmacy First as a boost to community pharmacies but offered further discussion.
Richard Drax
Con
South Dorset
Question
Asks to meet the Minister and her colleagues to discuss how to ensure deprived areas retain essential services.
Minister reply
Agreed to a meeting.
Hitchin
Question
Welcomes the initiative but asks for assurances on recruitment strategies for pharmacists and technicians.
Minister reply
Referred to the NHS long-term workforce plan aiming to increase pharmacists by 50%.
Vicky Ford
Con
Chelmsford
Question
Asks to meet the Minister to discuss how to ensure residents can access pharmacies in her constituency.
Minister reply
Agreed to a meeting.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Question
Raises recruitment issues for full-time pharmacists and asks how the Government will help.
Minister reply
Noted that pharmacies are usually private businesses but offered further discussion.
Truro and Falmouth
Question
Welcomes the initiative but raises geographical challenges in her constituency and asks to meet about mapping.
Minister reply
Agreed to a meeting, noting that 100 pharmacies in Cornwall are signed up for Pharmacy First.
Paul Bristow
Con
Peterborough
Question
Welcomes the initiative but asks about ensuring awareness reaches difficult-to-reach communities.
Minister reply
Confirmed a big communications plan is planned, including sharing it with him.
L Oswestry and Ellesmere
Question
Although my right hon. Friend and I share a common scepticism of the sclerotic state of the European Union, there are lessons to be learned from Europe. I am glad to see that, like France, we are now respecting community pharmacies. However, I have one specific question. In her statement, she said that one thing on which the pharmacy can act is female urinary tract infections. Why not male?
Minister reply
I wish my hon. Friend a happy Brexit day. I will have to come back to him on that issue. The point is that the service is limited to minor urinary tract infections. That might be why it does not include men, but I will certainly get back to him on that point.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
I and many—if not all—of my constituents very warmly welcome the statement. On integration with other NHS access services, if an individual were to dial NHS 111 with one of the conditions mentioned in the statement, would they be diverted to a pharmacy or to a GP first?
Minister reply
To a pharmacy. NHS 111, GPs and urgent and emergency care can all refer to pharmacists for those particular common conditions.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
I join others in welcoming the new scheme. Will my right hon. Friend ensure, as part of the communications, that the NHS website is updated to show which pharmacies have signed up to Pharmacy First, and will she continue to encourage those that have not yet signed up to do so?
Minister reply
What is brilliant is that over 95% of all community pharmacies have signed up, including 172 in my hon. Friend’s area.
Question
Key to the service’s success will be pharmacies actually offering it when patients turn up. Does my right hon. Friend know how many individual pharmacists have been trained to provide the services, and is there a way of gathering and publishing data on when pharmacies will offer the service, so that patients will not have a frustrated journey and we can see where the gaps are?
Minister reply
As I say, more than 95% of all community pharmacies have signed up to the service, and all their pharmacists have been trained in how to deliver it.
Question
As someone who has championed the role of community pharmacies throughout my time in this House, I warmly welcome today’s statement. I am particularly delighted that we were able to host one of the pilot schemes in Cornwall, which was hugely successful, resulting in 7,500 consultations that took 6,000 appointments away from GPs and 75 A&E appearances. Will the Minister join me in thanking all the pharmacies in Cornwall that took part in that pilot, which was so successful?
Minister reply
Absolutely. It is only by trying these things that we can see how successful they can be, and I do believe this service is going to radically improve patient access to care.
Shadow Comment
Preet Kaur Gill
Shadow Comment
Labour supports pharmacists playing a greater role in NHS but criticises the closure of pharmacies under Conservative leadership. Questions the Minister about training delays and IT integration issues affecting service delivery. Asks for an acceleration of independent prescribing to support chronic condition management and reduce over-prescribing.
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