Following the recent General Election and resulting hung parliament, pharmacy bodies have called on all political parties to recognise the important role of community pharmacists. 

NPA Chairman, Ian Strachan, said: “Whatever the composition of the new Government, they must make good on their promises in relation to local pharmacies. We look forward to working constructively with the new team in the Department of Health, to turn these promises into a reality that benefits patients across the country. This election was not just about Brexit, it was also about public services such as the NHS, of which your local pharmacy is the frontline.”

Sandra Gidley, chair of the English Pharmacy Board, hoped that the start of a new Parliament would offer the Government the opportunity to reset and rebuild its relationship with community pharmacy. 

 

“The next government must now start to work with the RPS and community pharmacy sector to describe a positive future where the skills of pharmacists working in community are properly utilised," she said.

“Pharmacists, wherever they work, support high quality patient care and help ensure the public get the best value from medicines. The RPS will not stop advocating for continued support of their increasingly important role. As we look ahead to the next Parliament, RPS will continue championing pharmacists in all settings as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team across the NHS.”