Simon Dukes

PSNC 'very close' to agreeing funding for next year

Simon Dukes has provided an update on progress on the first annual contract review, with six weeks to go to the new financial year.

PSNC will not wait for annual review to put case for further investment.

The review will explore issues such as how the support offered by PSNC and LPCs could be improved.

Deputy chief pharmaceutical officer Bruce Warner said CPCS is a “step change” in the way people access community pharmacists.

“It is to us as a sector” to discuss issues like consolidation and the Pharmacy Access Scheme, he argued.

The monthly ‘transitional payments’ are being made to help community pharmacies prepare for a more services-based role.

PSNC wants an independent review to determine how effectively it and LPCs are working for contractors.

Community pharmacy has its first multi-year funding settlement, but funding is fixed at current levels of £2.592bn per year.

The PSNC has appointed Sue Killen, the former chief executive of St John Ambulance, as its new chair.