Reporter Emily Warner is joined by the chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), Janet Morrison, for an exclusive look behind the scenes of the pharmacy contract negotiations.
Sector funding is set to increase by £340 million under the new contract deal – announced on 29 May – which also includes NHS-funded independent prescribing (IP) and an expanded Pharmacy First service.
CPE said that the funding settlement was accepted on the condition of a shared programme of reform with the government and NHS England, and that committee members had been ‘very reluctant’ to accept the uplift.
In this episode, Ms Morrison unpacks what actually happened during negotiations, why the CPE committee was so reluctant to accept the deal, and what the ‘programme of reform’ will entail.
he explains what she is most proud of and most disappointed by in the new contract, as well as the many proposals CPE made that fell by the wayside during negotiations.
And the interview sheds light on the two-month delay in reaching an agreement which sector leaders described as ‘inexcusable’ given the financial pressures facing pharmacy – including the rise in business rates, increased wages, and inflationary costs.
Contractors have told The Pharmacist they are worried they will see very little of this money and expressed disappointment in the lack of action to address drug pricing and reimbursement issues.
CPE is now seeking opinions on the contract in its latest sector poll to establish whether the settlement will ease financial pressure, what challenges remain and how it affects their business outlook.
This episode was produced by Emily Warner.