Community pharmacy leaders have called for urgent action to 'stop the rot' of pharmacy closures and to invest in the sector, following Lord Ara Darzi's report into the state of the NHS.

The Darzi review - a major investigation into the NHS, commissioned by the government - praised the value of community pharmacies and preventative services, but recognised the level of closures across the country and warned pharmacy access could be 'at risk'.

Overarchingly, the report called for a left shift to spend more on community and preventative care to help relieve 'congestion' within acute hospital services.

Pharmacy leaders have said the landmark investigation must 'spur ministers into immediate action' to support the sector, while calling for an 'urgent reshape' of NHS care.

NPA: Patients need action on pharmacies 'now'

National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Paul Rees said investing in pharmacy was the key to fixing the NHS 'fast'.

'Lord Darzi’s report must spur ministers into immediate action to end the scandal of pharmacy closures caused by chronic underfunding over many years, that is eating away at frontline patient care,' said Mr Rees.

'With pharmacies closing at the rate of seven a week and so many more teetering on the brink, the millions who use pharmacies simply can’t wait. They need action now.

'There’s a huge prize here – modest investment to ensure adequate pharmacy funding could transform frontline care, end the scramble for doctors’ appointments, and help fix the NHS fast.'

IPA: Healthcare needs 'an urgent reshape' with community pharmacies 'at the very heart'

Meanwhile, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) Dr Leyla Hannbeck told The Pharmacist the report 'exposes the critical challenges facing our NHS and the devastating impact this is having on the nation's health'.

'Our approach needs an urgent reshape with a shift to care in the community, which our community pharmacies must be at the very heart of,' she said.

'Over 1.6 million people walk through community pharmacy doors across the country daily and we are accessible and professional.

'The 10-year plan resulting from this review must include a commitment to properly fund our local pharmacies.

'If we invest in community pharmacies, we will not only save the NHS and taxpayer money but also relieve pressure on other parts of the health service.'

CPE: Darzi paints 'a bleak picture' - a refocus is 'absolutely essential'

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) chief executive Janet Morrison said the negotiator agreed with the Darzi report 'that it is absolutely essential to refocus healthcare towards community and primary care services'.

She said: 'The report’s findings paint a bleak picture of primary care. This is even more so for community pharmacy.'

The 'stark financial situation' hitting pharmacies has reached 'a tipping point', added Ms Morrison.

'Government, patients and the NHS desperately need to make better use of the wealth of skills and expertise in community pharmacies, and these findings demonstrate the value of having an accessible pharmacy network supporting people to live well with the medicines they are taking and providing clinical care for patients,' she said.

Ms Morrison added that CPE would continue to recommend that the government and NHS put community pharmacies 'at the centre of delivery of the government’s primary care priorities, focussing on provision of public health services, reducing pressure on GP practices, and other measures to position pharmacies as local health and wellbeing hubs'.

'We look forward to discussing these in more detail very soon, and hope that we can work at pace to develop a shared ambition for pharmacies, coupled with the right investment and sustainable contractual framework,' she said.

CCA: 'Immediate action' needed to 'stop the rot'

And Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists' Association (CCA), called for 'immediate action to stop the rot' of pharmacy closures, which he said 'continue to ramp up, particularly in areas of deprivation'.

While the Darzi report found declining productivity in the NHS, Mr Harrison said: 'We know the reverse is true of community pharmacy, despite a shrinking funding pot.'

And he highlighted increasing numbers of items dispensed and services delivered by the sector.

'The review rightly points out that there is huge potential to harness the clinical capabilities of pharmacists. Expansion of Pharmacy First, which the report describes as a “notable success” is key – a fully-fledged service could free up 30m+ GP appointments each year,' he said.

'Similarly, pharmacies can play an even bigger role in administering vaccinations as the report rightly highlights concerns around declining uptake.

'An expanded role for community pharmacy is only possible if there is action to protect the existing community pharmacy network through additional investment.

'We wholeheartedly support a greater proportion of NHS funding being directed to community settings.

'We hope that the report’s findings spur action before it is too late, and patients lose access to the local pharmacies that they have come to rely on.'