 PSNC has today published a summary of the counter proposal it has made to the Department of Health in response to the Government’s proposals for community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond. The counter proposal sets out how community pharmacy services, including an emergency supply of medicines service, could be used to generate the savings the NHS needs to make through pharmacy, without a cut in funding. PSNC’s proposal includes plans that would enable pharmacies to make savings in the prescribing budget and to save on costs for out of hours GP services. PSNC has also proposed payments that would reward the provision of high quality pharmacy services, in response to the Department’s aim to alter community pharmacy funding distribution mechanisms. The counter proposal was made to offer a short term alternative to the cuts proposed by the Government; PSNC still believes that the service development proposals it made in February are the right way forward for community pharmacy, patients and the NHS, and we are working towards those in the medium to long term. Further details of the counter proposal are outlined in PSNC Briefing 026/16: PSNC’s counter proposal to the Government’s plans for community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond.
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 The NPA are putting on 2 events to with regards to the proposed finance cuts. Details are below. You do not need to be a member to register for the Webinar. Cuts and 'Efficiencies': The Facts - Webinar 28 April 2016 7.45pm-8.45pm - Free of charge Amidst the noise of the campaign, and the claims and counter-claims, what are the facts about the Government proposals for cuts and efficiencies? We will help you make fact-based judgements about your future business and practice. Join the NPA webinar to find out more. Register for the online webinar Meeting the Challenge Together Conference - Sunday 8th May - Huddersfield Free of charge to attend and suitable for all members of the pharmacy team Come and join us to meet fellow independents in a relaxed atmosphere and take steps to improve your working environment, profitability and service to patients. It is also an opportunity to discuss the independent sector's response to the Department of Health's plans for cuts and 'efficiencies' in community pharmacy. Full agenda now confirmed and includes practical strategies, workshops and top tips for improving your professional knowledge and business. Register your place online Following the unfortunate comments at prime ministers question time the an open letter from NPA Chair Ian Strachan has been sent to David_Cameron explaining to him that he is wrong. "Prime Minister, you have been poorly advised" The letter can be view below.   PSNC has urged David Cameron to reconsider his plans for community pharmacy after the Prime Minister told MPs that he wanted to see value for money from the sector following massive increases in spending.
The Prime Minister’s comments followed a question from Sue Hayman, Labour MP for Workington, who asked whether the Government would support independent pharmacies which she said were a vital lifeline for rural communities and helped keep high streets alive. Ms Hayman mentioned Allisons’ Chemists in Cockermouth, which she said had collected more than 2,000 signatures for the petition against the Government’s planned funding cuts. Mr Cameron said the Government would support rural pharmacies but he added that there had been ‘a massive increase in pharmacy spending’ over the past five years. He said: “As we make sure that as much of the NHS’s resources go to the front line – the doctors and the nurses and the operations and the A&E that we want to see carried out – we’ve got to see value for money in pharmacy while at the same time protecting the rural pharmacies.” Responding to the comments PSNC Chief Executive Sue Sharpe said: “The Prime Minister could have taken the opportunity to recognise the excellent, front-line work carried out every day in community pharmacies all over the country and to welcome PSNC’s recent counter-proposals for the pharmacy contract. It seems, however, that Mr Cameron was poorly briefed by his officials. Community pharmacies are at the front-line of healthcare. Community pharmacies are the front line that keep people out of A&E and GP surgeries. It is not accurate to say that there has been a massive increase in pharmacy spending over the past five years. The global sum distributed to community pharmacies has grown significantly slower than inflation and rising volumes of prescriptions. It has also grown slower than overall funding for the NHS. Community pharmacies provide excellent value for money to the NHS. PSNC continues to discuss its counter-proposals with the Department of Health and NHS England.”  The RPS has issued the following press statement about David Camerons comments in Prime ministers question time. The statement is below. Today at Prime Minister's Questions, a question was asked relating the recent Government proposals around community pharmacies;
Sue Hayman (Lab, Workington): More than 2,000 people have signed a petition, started by Allisons Chemist in Cockermouth in my constituency, calling on the Government not to cut the funding of community pharmacists. Given the major reports last week regarding the actions of Boots, which now faces investigation by the regulator, is it not time that the Prime Minister and his Government supported independent ?pharmacists, such as Allisons, which are a vital lifeline for our community and help to keep our high streets alive? The Prime Minister: We are supporting rural pharmacies —there is a specific scheme to help there—but in the last five years there has been a massive increase in pharmacy spending. As we make sure that as much of the NHS’s resources as possible go to the frontline—the doctors and nurses, the operations and the A&E we want—we have to make sure we are getting value for money in pharmacy, while also protecting the rural pharmacies the hon. Lady speaks about. Sandra Gidley, EPB Board Chair, has previously said about the Government proposals; “The RPS is extremely concerned about the announced funding cut for community pharmacy. It believes the proposed scale of the reduction in support for the service has the potential to adversely impact patient care. We also believe the cuts are short sighted, coming just as phenomenal pressures on other parts of the NHS mean that community pharmacists are now seen as an accessible source for advice, helping people stay well through treating them for many minor ailments and health conditions. “When providing medicines for some patients, particularly those with long-term health conditions, pharmacists often need to talk to people to check things with them and answer any questions they may have about their medications. To ensure safety and effectiveness they also need to ensure patients understand exactly how their medicines should be taken. “With ever growing pressures on GP surgeries and hospital A&E departments, an integrated community pharmacy network is key to ensuring people have access to the healthcare they need. People now regularly go to their community pharmacist for flu jabs, health checks and for preventative therapies such as weight management and stopping smoking. All this patient-focused clinical support goes a long way to ease the growing pressure on GP surgeries and hospital emergency departments. “There is a very real concern within the profession that the Government is attempting to cut the cost of the community pharmacy service without considering the real value we provide to patients and the public. Government must consider the capacity that the community pharmacy network provides to relieve pressures on GPs and A&E.” You can view the question and Prime Minister's response here 
During Prime Minister’s Question Time today David Cameron was asked a question on the cut in community pharmacy funding. The transcript is below, in which the PM alludes to community pharmacy not being a part of the NHS front line. He also alludes to large payments to community pharmacy in the past five years which couldn’t be categorised as value for money: Sue Hayman (Lab, Workington): Mr Speaker, more than 2,000 people have signed a petition, started by Alison’s Chemist in Cockermouth in my constituency, calling on the Government not to cut the funding of community pharmacies [murmurs of agreement from Lab benches]. Given the media reports last week regarding the actions of Boots, who now face investigation by the regulator, isn’t it time the Prime Minister and his Government supported independent pharmacies like Alison’s more [more Labour agreement], which are a vital lifeline for our community and help to keep our high streets alive? The Prime Minister: We are supporting rural pharmacies, there’s a specific scheme to help there, but if we look at the last five years there was a massive increase in pharmacy spending, and as we make sure that as much of the NHS resources go to the front line, the doctors, and the nurses, and the operations, and the A&E that we want to see carried out, then we have got to make sure we are getting value for money in pharmacy, while at the same time protecting the rural pharmacies that she speaks about. The question and answer can be seen below.  The above poster has been used in some of the national newspapers this week to encourage members of the public to come into your pharmacies to sign the downing street petition.
It is really important that all pharmacies are involved so that when members of the public as about it you are ready to capture their signatures. Below are som instructions about the petition to help. Downing Street Petition 1. Download a copy of the petition by clicking HERE. 2. Print as many off as you need and ask people to support the petition by signing it. You can also download a poster to help highlight the petition by clicking HERE 3. Once each page is complete make sure you Fax it back to the NPA straight away. There are 2 numbers on the back of the petition or if they are busy you can use - 01727 795934 4. Keep the local copies in case you have a visit from a local MP It is really important to make our voice heard so please get behind the campaign. For more details of other things you can do please visit our webpage. http://www.gandstlpc.net/whattodo.html and keep an eye out for further communications as the campaign develops.  As you will know we have been backing the NPA pharmacy campaign to oppose the pharmacy funding cuts announced just before Christmas. The campaign has several parts to it. We recently focused on the downing street petition. We have now learned that is gaining momentum and has now got over 500,000 signatures!!! This is a fantastic success however we need to keep it up. Make sure you have your petitions out and ensure you fax them back to the NPA as soon as each page is full. MP Campaign Cards Another element to the pharmacy campaign is the MP campaign cards. These cards are essentially a letter from a constituent to their MP. You can give these to your patients to send to their MP's. If we can fill the local MP's mailbag with letters from patients it will highlight the campaign to them and make the strength of feeling felt. This will hopefully encourage them to act by asking questions in parliament or taking part in any parliamentary debates. 1. Pharmacies in Gateshead & South Tyneside will have already received a pack of 50 Cards however you can order more by clicking here. Please note you do not need to be a NPA member to order cards. 2. Place the cards on your counter (perhaps next to the petition). 3. Brief your staff that the card just needs the patient to fill in their name and address. When speaking to patients staff can highlight that the petition is going to Downing street and the card is going to their local MP. 4. Collect the cards and use our resource page to find out who the local MP is. Fill in the MP details on the card then post off the cards to the MP. 5. The card asks the MP to write back to the patient / customer with their views. 6. By filling the MP's mail bags with these cards will indicate the strength of feeling about the issue. It is really important to make our voice heard so please get behind the campaign. You may find that an MP contacts you to discuss the issue. You can find some resources on our website to help you discuss the issues with the MP. You may wish to also tell them that their is a parliamentary debate on the 14th April that they may like to attend. For more details of other things you can do please visit our webpage. http://www.gandstlpc.net/whattodo.html and keep an eye out for further communications as the campaign develops. |
Pharmacy Future 2016
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