Community Pharmacy – what does the future hold Sue Sharpe Chief Executive

The 17 December letter Desire for a clinically focussed community pharmacy service But no proposals Integration fund Cut in funding Reduction of £170m minimum, taken October-March Centralised dispensing Driving Online Hub + Spoke

The 17 December letter Too many pharmacies Access scheme Simplifying payments Using volume measures Remove Establishment payments Single activity fee

The 17 December letter Increase prescription duration Timescale for negotiations to 24 March

Why are they doing it? The £22bn cuts challenge Pharmacy numbers growth Large chains Hub + spoke etc cost savings Commoditising supply to save costs Making CCGs responsible for primary care delivery Supporting growth of employed pharmacists in GP practices

Our reply – positives Pharmacies will develop the online offer Hub + Spoke but not hub no spoke/ Amazon Regulations to remove blocks to voluntary mergers of neighbouring pharmacies Clinical focus and service development proposals

Our reply - negatives Ill considered; not informed by understanding of pharmacy value. No analysis or data seen to help us understand and test proposals or assertions – ‘no compromise to quality’. Bad decision, pharmacies will need to cut back; will cost NHS more elsewhere. Combination of proposals incurs high risk of destabilising market. Insufficient time and detail for a consultation of this scope and complexity.

Greater Manchester impact Abandonment of national contract for local very high risk, and capacity to create a local Drug Tariff very unlikely Danger of allowing selective departure from national contract GM Strategic Partnership Board will watch national negotiations; baseline funding for the core service will be affected if funding cut is applied Other elements e.g. changes to funding distribution will have a direct impact CPGM has developed their interest in stimulating innovative services projects, but unlikely to be universal across GM, and for good reasons there is low reliance on local service commissioning to support investment in service development

The Campaign A Coalition – with NPA and others Not disparate insurgents Every pharmacy must help – help us or harms us Targets for support: MPs, local councillors, charities, health and social care sector workers And patients Aim to find a win-win

Campaign Planning Luther Pendragon on political lobbying -Local activity -National activity Planning for a two year campaign Economic consultants Other expert advice Legal advice Strong partnership with NPA Collaboration with RPS, CCA, AIMp, PV, NPA

How are we doing so far? Very early stages But already having an impact Westminster Hall debate 23 February Minister letter to Conservative MPS Cross party MP concern Every pharmacy has a role to play in their future