Pharmacy organisations brief MPs in Westminster

We are joining community pharmacy organisations in Parliament today to highlight the role that community pharmacy can play in helping people to support people with long-term conditions.

With continued pressures on the NHS, growing demand from an ageing population, and the King’s Fund warning of a “crisis” facing the health and care workforce, pharmacists are meeting MPs in a briefing session to explain how they can identify and treat long-term conditions in the community. We will highlight how adopting this strategy across England will keep people healthy and out of hospital, so reducing pressures on primary and secondary care.

Whether it is developing a care plan with patients, offering advice on healthy lifestyles, or helping people to get the most from their medicines, the briefing session aims to demonstrate how community pharmacy can play a vital role in supporting people’s health and deliver a sustainable NHS for the future.

Sandra Gidley, Chair of RPS England, said:

“We know that the NHS needs to make better use of the clinical skills of pharmacists to treat people in the community, supporting public health and prevention, and taking pressure off GPs and hospitals.

“With a third of the NHS budget spent on caring for people with long-term conditions, our 2016 report identified this as a key area where pharmacists can make a difference.

“As the Government looks ahead to developing a long-term plan for the NHS, we’re pleased to be joining other organisations today and talking to MPs about community pharmacy’s role at the forefront of healthcare.”

Sir Kevin Barron MP, Chair of the All-Party Pharmacy Group, said:

“It is great to see what pharmacy is capable of and how it could provide more support for people with long-term conditions. The All-Party Pharmacy Group, which I chair, recently called for a wholesale upgrade of what the NHS provides for people with long-term conditions.

 For too long, people have been passed from pillar to post, with lots of variation in practice and uncoordinated care. We will continue to urge the Government to commission services from pharmacies to meet this need.”

The briefing session is supported by:

• Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies 

• Company Chemists' Association

• National Pharmacy Association

• Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

• Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Read the RPS report: Frontline pharmacists: Making a difference for people with long term conditions 

More than 16 million people in England are diagnosed with a long-term physical health condition, and one in three of this group will experience a mental health problem. Read more about our campaign on mental health.