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RPS fears cuts can only have a negative impact on patient care

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RPS fears cuts can only have a negative impact on patient care

Royal Pharmaceutical Society has responded to the Department of Health’s consultation on ‘Community Pharmacy in 2016/17 and Beyond’ expressing concerns about the impact the cut in funding will have on patient care.

The RPS believes that ‘alongside these concerns (it) has made the case for investment in the profession which would improve the public’s health and wellbeing.”

“In all our meetings with the Government we have been unequivocal in our concerns about the impact on patient care that could result from these cuts,” said Sandra Gidley, RPS English Pharmacy Board chair.

“We have made it very clear that community pharmacists, as the most accessible healthcare providers on the High Street, must not be diminished. We are extremely concerned the cut has been imposed without an attempt to assess where and how services will be affected.”

“We recognise the need to consider efficiencies across the NHS in order to ensure the best use of resources at this time of growing public demand. We have made a strong case for the development of pharmacy to deliver a greater range of clinical services in new roles that will fulfil the Government’s ambition to put pharmacists at the heart of the NHS, as well as creating efficiency savings across the broader NHS.”

The RPS has submitted a ten point response to the Department of Health’s consultation with pharmacy stakeholders, which closed on Friday 12 February.

Some of the key points include: the recognition that community pharmacy provides the public with the most accessible NHS service in the country, a need for reassurance that the overarching objective of these reforms centres on improving patient access to care and a call for clarity on whether there will be further cuts to the global sum in future years, or any fundamental changes to the contract itself. The RPS has expressed serious concerns that further cuts could destabilise the sector and lead to uncertainty and a lack of investment for the future.

Support for the community pharmacy campaign

“We should be looking at investment in prevention services in community pharmacy not cutting them #communitypharmacy.”

Kevin Barron MP @KevinBarronMP

“Just spoke in WH debate re cuts to Community Pharmacy funding. Pharmacies are embedded in communities, need full impact assessments of risks.”

Paula Sherriff MP @paulasherriff

“Instead of cutting community pharmacy, Ministers should be doing all they can to increase the capacity to help patients, increase accessibility and reduce the load on hard pressed primary care and hospitals.”

Lord Philip Hunt @LordPhilofBrum

“Work done by the healthy living pharmacy initiative has shown that 70% of people who visit pharmacies do not regularly access other healthcare services.”

Graham Jones MP @GrahamJones_MP

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