Matt Hancock, secretary of sate for health and social care, has been confirmed as the headline speaker at the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Communications International Group (CIG) conference on 20 June.
 
Mr Hancock will outline developments in health policy and his hopes for community pharmacy at the conference in Manchester, the theme of which will be ‘Forwards, in Partnership’.
 
The conference is a collaboration between the NPA and CIG, publisher of Training Matters, Pharmacy Magazine, P3 Pharmacy, Independent Community Pharmacist.
 
NPA chief executive, Mark Lyonette, said he was delighted Hancock would take part, commenting: “We believe it demonstrates an eagerness to engage with the sector, and an understanding on his part that pharmacies are essential to the health of the nation.”

He added: “The NPA is working in partnership with others in the sector and with the NHS, to find a positive way forward for community pharmacy. The road to success is not a journey that can be taken alone. That is why we have chosen ‘Forwards in Partnership’ as our theme."