Community pharmacy should no longer be ignored in the face of an over-stretched NHS, Celesio UK managing director Cormac Tobin has said.

“It certainly is concerning to read the daily headlines which document the continuing challenges facing the NHS, over-stretched A&E, under-pressure general practice and patients awaiting important operations dealing with uncertainty, and all without any sustained period of cold weather or flu epidemic, the system appears to be in need of life support,” Mr Tobin commented.

“Government and the NHS can no longer afford to ignore community pharmacy nor deny patients the services which the sector can deliver. A stakeholder task group must be brought together urgently to secure maximum impact from the sector at this critical time, it’s time to make it happen.”

The vision of The Community Pharmacy Forward View; Making it Happen offers the NHS the opportunity to make the most of the sector, he said.

“The vision is clear; we want to be enabled to be the first port of call for common ailments, provide better support for people with long-term conditions and to be a community health and wellbeing hub, all of which are achievable and will go a long way in helping our ailing NHS and people that are struggling to access services.”

Achieving this would need collaboration and greater integration with NHS colleagues, he added.

“For pharmacy to be truly at the heart of the NHS, we need Government to work with us. To dismiss the glaring opportunity that the Community Pharmacy Forward View presents would be short-sighted and ill-advised. We’re here, a ready-made, highly trained network of healthcare providers, located conveniently in the heart of communities, and offering cost effective solutions. We have the capacity and skills.”