PSNC has demanded further detail from NHS England about its plans for community pharmacy and the analysis underpinning them, saying it is unable to begin negotiations on community pharmacy in 2016/17 without this.

In her response to the letter published by NHS England in December regarding the £170 million cut to pharmacy funding, PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said she feared NHS England was aiming for a larger funding cut in 2017/18 than the initial six per cent stated, alongside reductions in pharmacy numbers and a drive towards a commoditised supply service, bypassing access to the support and advice available at community pharmacies.

Ms Sharpe also stated that the unwillingness of the NHS to provide clarity on the subject was eroding the confidence of the PSNC, as well as the contractors it represents, in the process. She added that the Government was “ignoring entirely” the evidence for the value of commissioning community pharmacy services, and that it appeared to have settled on a “course of action that will run counter to its stated ambition to develop a clinically focused pharmacy service”.

PSNC is hosting a meeting of LPCs on 20 January to discuss its response to the Government plans and consultation and is also working collaboratively with the other national pharmacy organisations for a solution.