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The Independent Pharmacy Federation has contributed to five key pledges for the profession to campaign on in the run-up to the general election. Its chief executive Claire Ward sets out the political points

As we head towards the general election one of the top issues in the minds of politicians and voters alike is the future of the NHS. All parties swear undying love to the principles on which it was founded. All recognise that it is, for most citizens of this country, a pillar of our society, with few able to afford not to rely on it. Indeed, even those wealthy or fortunate enough to have private healthcare insurance would still be at the mercy of an NHS hospital in the event of an emergency.

So we know that the focus on the NHS will be intense with all parties rushing to find the answers to both the funding crisis it faces and its inability to meet the overwhelming demands for patient care both in primary and acute settings.

Step forward, Simon Stevens, the new champion of NHS England (and remember that the 'N' in NHS is not really national, as devolved power has resulted in three systems of delivery). Stevens' five-year plan reads as a potential manifesto for any political party that truly wants to protect and enhance our health system.

Take a closer look

However, let's look more closely at what he has to say about the role of community pharmacy in his five-year forward plan. It's not much, but what he has pointed out is that community pharmacy needs to be utilised more particularly in public health and prevention of illness. It also needs to be promoted to the public as the place to visit for care of minor ailments.

On all of this we are agreed. The real problem for pharmacy is that it needs to be setting up its own stall for the forthcoming general election, not simply relying on the side references of others as part of the wider discussion on the future of the NHS.

Community pharmacy needs to be utilised more particularly in public health and prevention of illness. 

So, in partnership with other pharmacy organisations PSNC and Pharmacy Voice, these are the five key pledges that we want to see a united community pharmacy sector campaign on in the run-up to the election in May 2015. We want pharmacies, independent and multiple, to take this campaign out to their local constituencies, urging their sitting MPs and opponent candidates to visit their pharmacy and sign up to the community pharmacy manifesto.

We want patients to know what these changes will mean for them and to lobby their candidates to support these changes:

1. National commissioning or standardisation of community pharmacy services.

Patients need to have confidence in the network of community pharmacy and know that, if they need to access flu services or a national minor ailments service, they can at any pharmacy across the country. It does not mean local needs will not be taken into account but we also need to reinforce the 'N' in NHS.

2. Alignment of the GP and community pharmacy contractual frameworks with appropriate funding.

We have to build a better relationship between GPs and pharmacy to maximise the potential of primary care. So we need to get rid of the silo working and incentivise the best way of working.

3. Extension of NHS IT and data collection systems to include community pharmacy.

We need pharmacy to have access to medical records and be able to help patients to improve their management of medication.

4. Development of pharmacy's medicine support role.

We know that 50 per cent of medicines are not taken properly or at all. So we can help the NHS to reduce its waste and improve patient outcomes. We want politicians to understand the value that community pharmacy can deliver to patients.

5. Recognition of pharmacies as key public health locations and providers.

The news is full of stories about A&E and GP surgeries being unable to cope with demand. We need to have a more proactive health service that is accessible and helps to deliver improved public health. Community pharmacy is key to that change.

You have six months to make an impression on your local candidates and their political parties. Do not sit back and let this time pass.

It's time to get community pharmacy to the forefront of the political campaigns and ensure that all MPs are aware of the value that you can deliver to their constituents and your patients.

Contacting the IPF

The Independent Pharmacy Federation can be reached by e-mail at: claire@theipf.co.uk, or via its website at: www.theipf.co.uk