The new five-year Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) provides a great opportunity to build on the clinical services provided by community pharmacy to enhance patient care, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) has commented.

Published on 22 July, the CPCF describes the pivotal role pharmacy teams have to play in helping to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan and details the renewed focus on public health, prevention and service provision.

The contract was met with mixed responses from across the pharmacy industry, with concerns over the flat funding structure, however most have broadly welcomed the move to a more clinically-focused contract framework and the opportunity to refocus community pharmacy on the delivery of care.

Responding to the contract, Liz Fidler, president of APTUK, said: “Using the skills of pharmacy technicians will enable pharmacists to focus valuable expertise on clinical activities for the benefit of patients and wider health economy, and this is essential if pharmacy is to deliver what it is being asked to do under the NHS Long Term Plan, GP contract and community pharmacy contract.”

Ms Fidler added that APTUK “welcomes the opportunity to work with key partners and stakeholders to realise the value [of] pharmacy technicians.”