Negotiations for the community pharmacy contract in England will not begin until next year, pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock has confirmed.

Contractors in England are currently working under the terms of a contractual framework agreed in 2019, that expired in March this year.

A new contract was due to begin in April but was delayed as negotiations 'did not get over the line before the general election', Mr Kinnock said.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate yesterday (17 December) the Labour MP for Aberafan Maesteg said he was 'frustrated as everybody else about the delay' to the contractual framework.

Mr Kinnock added: 'The reason for the delay is that the negotiations did not get over the line before the general election.

'The general election came, and we have spent a lot of time now clearing up the disastrous mess that the previous government made of the system.

'I can say that we are now very focused on getting these negotiations started early in the new year.

'I know that hon. Members across the House will be very interested in that, in terms of the contractual framework, the medicines margin and all of the funding.

'We have a statutory duty to consult with the sector before we can make any announcement, but we are confident that we will start the negotiations early in the new year.'

Commenting on the parliamentary debate, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said the start of negotiations 'cannot happen quickly enough'.

'Urgent action is needed to keep pharmacies afloat and to protect communities’ access to medicine supply and health advice. We have been absolutely clear to Government and the NHS that without an adequate immediate funding injection they can expect to see many more closures – we look forward beginning negotiations early in the New Year.'

And she said she was 'very grateful for the support of all MPs who took part in this debate to voice their support for increased funding for their local community pharmacies'.

Ms Morrison added: 'Never before have we seen so many Parliamentarians recognising that pharmacies are in crisis and calling for investment.

'I hope the Minister noted the strength of feeling expressed at the debate from MPs worried and concerned for the long-term sustainability of healthcare provision in their communities. This of course reflects the desperation, and anger, of community pharmacy about the current crisis given all that pharmacies have done, and continue to do, for patients and the NHS.'

Meanwhile, Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) told The Pharmacist it was 'disappointing that contract negotiations are subject to further delays'.

'We hope that once they open, negotiations are concluded quickly as pharmacy businesses of all sizes need certainty to make operational and investment decisions.

'Community pharmacy is absolutely critical in delivering the three shifts in healthcare envisaged by this Government.

'Ultimately, the sector urgently needs an uplift in funding so that patients can continue to access the medicines they need,' he added.

And Tase Oputu, chair of the England Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) welcomed the minister’s 'recognition of the vital role of community pharmacies in patient care and easing NHS pressures'.

'The delay to the contract negotiations has caused uncertainty for pharmacy teams already working under extreme pressures.

'It is essential the Government prioritises sustained investment and funding for community pharmacies to ensure patients can continue to access a resilient community pharmacy network,' she added.

Pharmacy contractors represented by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of limiting their services unless funding is improved.

And the NPA previously told The Pharmacist that subject to agreement from its board, it would likely recommend its members to take action from January unless the government offers the sector a suitable and sustainable funding deal before then.