Negotiations on the delayed community pharmacy contract in England are expected to resume 'soon', Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said following a meeting with the pharmacy minister.

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison, along with two community pharmacy members of the CPE negotiating team, has met with care minister Stephen Kinnock, the negotiator said.

Mr Kinnock has responsibility for primary care including community pharmacy.

'He reiterated how central community pharmacies will be to the new government’s health and wider missions,' CPE said.

CPE said it had underlined the critical pressures facing the sector and the urgent need for a funding uplift.

Representatives also discussed Pharmacy First and outlined the potential for pharmacies to do more.

And CPE said it expects negotiations on the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) for 2024/25 'to resume soon'.

Further information about negotiations would be given 'as soon as possible', it added.

Janet Morrison, CPE chief executive, commented: 'Community pharmacy has much potential to help the new government to meet its ambitions for healthcare including expanding preventative services and reducing health inequalities'.

But she said pharmacies 'can only do this if they can afford to stay open and to develop their services'.

'We look forward to maintaining regular dialogue with Minister Kinnock as we work to try to improve both the short and long-term outlook for community pharmacies,' Ms Morrison added.

Interim contract expected for 2024/25

CPE has previously said that CPCF negotiations were not expected to start before September.

They would commence after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Treasury had discussed the level of funding available for core public services, CPE suggested.

CPE intends to agree a one-year interim arrangement agreed for the current financial year 2024/25, it has said.

Community pharmacy leaders have described the delay to the contract as 'frustrating' and 'ridiculous'. And contractors have said they are struggling to operate on a funding deal agreed more than five years ago.

Ms Morrison has warned contractors not to expect ‘revolutionary’ change in the next one-year deal. And 'significant clinical service proposals' in this contract are unlikely, CPE has said.

Instead, the negotiator is aiming to lay the groundwork for next year’s negotiations, Ms Morrison has said previously.

CPE has also revealed that it is looking to ensure that Pharmacy First funding is included within the core community pharmacy contract. It also wants to see funding uplifted for inflation, an increase in activity and service expansion.