Pharmacy contract negotiations ‘not expected’ before September

Government negotiations on the already-delayed 2024/25 community pharmacy contract are not expected to resume before September, it has been announced.

In an online statement, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said despite recognition from new ministers on the ‘urgent need’ to re-commence negotiations, it believes this will not be possible until the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Treasury have discussed the level of funding available for core public services.

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And its ‘expectation’ is that this means negotiations will not recommence before September.

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said the delay to the contract – which should have been implemented in April – would be ‘extremely difficult for pharmacy owners and their teams, with many businesses struggling to keep afloat’.

‘The impact on patients and the wider NHS should pharmacy businesses be allowed to collapse would be catastrophic, and we are continuing to warn government and the NHS of those risks and of the urgent need to intervene,’ she added.

When the general election was called in May, negotiations were underway for the contract which should have been implemented for the new financial year in April.

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But as previously reported, CPE had said in June that while contract discussions could continue no agreement could be reached until after the general election and the appointment of new government ministers.

Within the first weeks of the new government CPE said ‘urgent representations’ had been made to the DHSC and NHS England on issues such as Pharmacy First thresholds and ongoing funding challenges.

The negotiating body has also been working with an independent consultancy, PA Consulting, to carry out economic analysis on funding, costs and ‘the business case for future investment in the community pharmacy sector’ to support its work.

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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Community pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system and are key to our plans to make healthcare fit for the future.

‘This government is committed to working with the sector to expand the role of pharmacies, including making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.’