The English community pharmacy funding settlement for the next five years has been announced the first time that we have agreed a multi-year settlement. The agreement, set out in the new Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) which commences on 1st October 2019, aims to build on the clinical skills of community pharmacists and their teams which must be seen as a positive step. The Headlines Funding: The contract sum will remain unchanged at £2.592 billion until the end of … [Read more...] about New Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-2024
Viewpoint
Our reflections on the latest changes in the pharmacy and healthcare landscape.
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Are MURs worth it?
With the community pharmacy contractual framework under negotiation, one key question being asked will be about the future of Medicines Use Reviews (MURs). They are 14 years old (where has that time gone?) and as they reach adolescence, it is fair to say they have had a difficult infancy and childhood. It took a considerable amount of time and effort to get them off the ground and the sector is only delivering around three-quarters of MUR potential. There have been mumblings that pharmacists, … [Read more...] about Are MURs worth it?
Planning for a sustainable 2019 and beyond
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
Prevention better than cure
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, has launched the Government's vision to help the population live longer. Perhaps the strapline should be 'live well for longer', but this is nonetheless very welcomed as is the recognition of the important role of community pharmacy, in particular Healthy Living Pharmacies (HLP), in the plans. The Mission is to ensure that people can enjoy at least five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap … [Read more...] about Prevention better than cure
Planning for a sustainable future
The announcement of the funding settlement for the remainder of the 2018/19 financial year will not be well received by pharmacy owners in England. That, together with reinstatement of the temporarily postponed Category M overspend recovery, will create further cashflow and sustainability challenges for many owners, particularly independents. Unfortunately, this was predictable on the back of almost three lost years whilst the judicial review of the previously imposed and poorly implemented … [Read more...] about Planning for a sustainable future