PSNC’s announcement yesterday, that it had agreed a funding package of £2.8 billion with NHS Employers for 2015/16 in England, plus a national flu vaccination service, has been met with a largely positive reaction from pharmacy leaders.

‘This is great news for patients in England, giving them more choice and easier access to their winter flu vaccination,’ said Marc Donovan, chief pharmacist at Boots UK.

‘We are very pleased that NHS England and Public Health England have recognised the increased role that community pharmacy can play in delivering services as part of an integrated primary healthcare offer and we hope this is only the start of community pharmacy demonstrating its capabilities fully.’

‘Currently 50% of at-risk patients are not receiving their flu vaccination and we have believed for many years that expanding the delivery of this service to pharmacy, working alongside GPs, can help increase participation to the national target of 75%.’

Stephen Fishwick, head of communications for the National Pharmacy Association, echoed Mr Donovan’s feelings, saying: ‘We are naturally delighted that our members across England will have the opportunity to provide a flu service within the NHS. The national roll-out is an acknowledgement that pharmacy schemes locally have been effective at reaching people that other parts of the NHS have not. It plays to the strengths of a widely distributed pharmacy network that is highly convenient at the heart of communities.’

‘It demonstrates a confidence in the role of pharmacy teams to support the increasing pressures on NHS services, beyond simply providing prescriptions,’ added Rachel Sharples, pharmacy superintendent at Well.

Chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, Rob Darracott, believes that the timetable for the flu service rollout is too tight. ‘We’re only 10 weeks from the beginning of October – so Pharmacy Voice will support our members in communicating the service to patients, working with colleagues in NHS England to support community pharmacy provision with the message that you can visit your local pharmacy for an NHS flu vaccination.’

Numark’s managing director, John D’Arcy shared concerns that the deal does not reflect increasing workloads for pharmacies. ‘Whilst recognising the funding crisis within the NHS and the need for efficiency savings and belt tightening, it is nonetheless disappointing that the settlement for 15/16 is at the same level as last year. It is clear that pharmacy is now operating in a climate of “more for less” and the settlement represents a pay cut when measured against the underlying rate of inflation and overall growth in prescription numbers over the last year.’

‘Pharmacy contractors are seeing an erosion of margin and will struggle to absorb the increase in costs – particularly staff costs which will increase further with the new living wage – associated with ever increasing demands of running their businesses. In reality, the ability of pharmacy to fund increasing prescription volume and a growing number of additional services from the same envelope of funding has to be limited,’ he commented.