NPA chairman Ian Strachan has urged community pharmacists to be proud of their role, confident in their abilities and bold about the potential of the pharmacy network to meet the needs of the nation.

“We must look to go forwards from here; the alternative is not standing still, but going backwards. So, while being proud about what we already do, we must also be bold and confident about what more can be achieved.

“We must be confident and bold about our own potential – but they [government, regulators, commissioners] must share our ambition and back that up with meaningful investment and support for community pharmacy for the long-term,” he said.