Strong local leadership is key if community pharmacy is to thrive in a future with reduced funding and resources, pharmacy leaders agreed at this year’s Pharmacy Show.

Discussing the main challenges and opportunities facing the sector, an expert panel called for a strong local leader of the profession in every locality in order to build on the momentum of the “Support Your Local Pharmacy” campaign and help deliver the vision outlined in the Community Pharmacy Forward View.

Peter Cattee, CEO of PCT Healthcare, praised pharmacy teams for their “never-ending optimism in embracing new services”, but feared that without the direction of strong leaders, pharmacies would struggle to deliver under the pressure of unlikely financial expectations.

Rupert Newman, UK sales director at Celesio, acknowledged that there were “some fantastic local leaders in individual pharmacies”, but argued that it was “essential to support them to give them the confidence, space and time to get involved in local initiatives and develop their communication and negotiating skills.”

Marc Donovan, chief pharmacist at Boots UK, suggested that the leading pharmacy organisations and retailers could work together to help develop “beacons of light championing the role of community pharmacy up and down country”, while Ian Strachan, chair of the NPA, stressed the need to “carry out due diligence with pharmacy leaders to understand what their values and passions are”.

“Pharmacy services need to be led by people who really believe in them,” added Mr Strachan. “It really is all about leadership.”