The government will 'continue to discuss' issues raised around its proposed hub-to-patient model of hub and spoke dispensing with the community pharmacy negotiator, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said.

And it suggested briefing new ministers before changes could be implemented 'could take some time'.

Hubs could 'disrupt' community pharmacy market without controls

In a statement released last night, CPE said the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) had confirmed that it would 'continue to discuss the relevant issues' around hub and spoke dispensing with the negotiator.

'This includes patient safety issues and the potential proliferation of hubs, which are primarily issues with the Department’s Model 2 (patient – spoke – hub – patient) where supply of the dispensed medicine is from the hub direct to the patient,' CPE's director of legal, Gordon Hockey, said.

And he raised concerns that without controls, the changes could 'disrupt' the community pharmacy market.

The comment follows the announcement that changes to hub and spoke regulation will not come into effect on 1 January 2025, as was previously intended.

Briefing ministers 'may take some time'

CPE previously suggested the delay was due to the government needing time to brief new ministers before the proposed changes can be implemented.

In last night's statement, Mr Hockey said that officials had indicated that this 'may take some time'.

And he said the sector would be given more clarity on timescales 'as soon as practicable'.

He added that CPE 'broadly supports' the introduction of changes to allow hub and spoke dispensing between different legal entities.

But he said any changes 'need to be introduced in a way that is safe for patients and does not lead to a proliferation of hubs that can dispense directly to patients, which would undermine market entry controls'.

'Without controls on hubs, the community pharmacy market could be disrupted,' he suggested.

Mr Hockey also raised concerns that changes to hub and spoke dispensing may not actually lead to any financial savings for the sector.

'In addition, any activity saving will come at a cost, and given the critical state of pharmacy finances, pharmacy owners may not be able to invest in this at the moment,' he said.

Impact of hub and spoke changes on independent pharmacies

Harry McQuillan, chair of pharmacy chain Numark, said the delay was 'disappointing, particularly for independent pharmacy owners who continue to be left without the same opportunities as those operating within the same legal entity'.

But he said it would give Numark, in partnership with its parent pharmacy support business Phoenix, more time to 'carefully consider the full implications of extending hub and spoke to different pharmacy owners'.

'Our focus remains on ensuring that any future changes benefit all in community pharmacy, especially our independent members and partners, who play such a vital role in local healthcare,' he wrote in a LinkedIn post this morning.

Meanwhile Louise Laban, sales and marketing director at hub and spoke supplier Centred Solutions, said the delay to the the implementation of hub and spoke between different legal entities was 'a real concern'.

'We know of many smaller pharmacy groups and collectives who were eagerly awaiting legislation changes so they could take advantage of the benefits that hub and spoke brings,' she told The Pharmacist.

'Their plans to secure the future of their business have now been put on hold.

'While this legislation is not in place there will never be a level playing field for hub and spoke in community pharmacy.

'And it is those smaller groups and independents, who are already fighting for survival, that it will impact the most.'

And she highlighted Centred Solutions' ROI report that suggests a hub and spoke arrangement could deliver a return on investment within two years.