Everyone who owns or works in a community pharmacy in England is experiencing a very challenging time, both professionally and commercially. The current funding settlement together with reinstatement of the temporarily postponed Category M overspend recovery, creates further cashflow and profitability issues for many owners, particularly independents. This is on the back of almost three lost years whilst the judicial review of the previously imposed funding settlement was pursued when we were … [Read more...] about Planning for a sustainable 2019 and beyond
Future of pharmacy
HLP – more than a tick box exercise
When we first developed the concept of Healthy Living Pharmacy (HLP) and evolved the quality criteria there was no Quality Payment Scheme (QPS). Pharmacy contractors and local commissioners chose to invest the time and energy because they saw it as the right thing to do. HLP’s roots are in change management and organisational development – developing workforce capability, ensuring premises and facilities are fit for purpose and engaging with the community to deliver consistent high quality … [Read more...] about HLP – more than a tick box exercise
Back to the Future
What next for community pharmacy? This article I wrote for Pharmacy Magazine a couple of years ago explored what pharmacy might look like in the future. I speculated on two potential models which I called Nirvana and Amazonia. At the time I challenged the profession to create its own future and not be led by government and others to a place where we, and most patients, don't want to go whilst being realistic when we operate in a healthcare ecosystem is changing at an increasingly rapid … [Read more...] about Back to the Future