Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pharmacies: Primary Care

Tuesday 13 July 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister committed to a five-year community pharmacy contract.
  • Pharmacies are expected to deliver more clinical services and handle minor illnesses.
  • Minister recognizes the potential for pharmacies to increase their role in primary care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Taiwo Owatemi Lab Coventry North West
NHS
Context

None specified, focusing on the current and potential role of pharmacies in providing primary care services.

Question

What steps he is taking to develop the role of pharmacies in primary care provision.

Answer from Jo Churchill

We are committed to the five-year community pharmacy contract and to enabling community pharmacy to deliver more clinical services as well as being the first port of call for minor illnesses. Pharmacists are highly skilled members of the primary care team. We are making good progress with referrals from NHS 111 and general practice, with discharge medicines services from hospitals, and with 96% of pharmacies providing lateral flow tests as well as delivering vaccines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or timeline for developing pharmacy roles in primary care were not provided.

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Q2 Taiwo Owatemi Lab Coventry North West
NHS
Context

Acknowledges the valuable role pharmacies played during the covid-19 pandemic and seeks further development of their primary care provision post-pandemic.

Question

I am sure the Minister agrees that pharmacies have gone above and beyond to deliver vital medicines and health advice to patients in their communities during the covid-19 pandemic and that their response underlines the huge potential to grow their already massive contribution to our nation's health. Pharmacies have proven themselves to be a valuable member of the NHS family, so will she prioritise looking at the potential for pharmacies to provide even better primary care? Will she bring forward a plan to unleash their potential post pandemic?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I know that the hon. Lady speaks from experience, having been a clinical pharmacist before she came to this place. That potential needs unleashing. We are working across the profession to make sure that pharmacies are enabled to play a fuller part in the primary care family. We should think pharmacy first when we have minor ailments, and pharmacies should be enabled to do everything they can.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plan or prioritisation for unleashing potential of pharmacies was not provided.

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