MPs have highlighted the financial pressures facing community pharmacies in the House of Commons this week.

This morning, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford Marie Goldman said she had still not received an answer to her 8 January Prime Ministers' Question (PMQ) about pharmacy funding and dispensing at a loss.

'Community pharmacies can't wait,' she said, highlighting pharmacy closures and the lack of guaranteed funding for Pharmacy First beyond the end of this month.

'This is a critical issue that needs the government to address urgently,' she said.

In response, the leader of the house and Labour (Co-op) MP for Manchester Central Lucy Powell said that community pharmacies are 'a vital part to our national health service'.

'They've been left on their knees after many years, many have closed over recent years. We are turning that around, because getting services back into communities via pharmacies and other means is critical to delivering our health mission,' Ms Powell said.

She added she would ensure Ms Goldman got a reply to her question.

'Primary care is much more than general practice'

Also in the House of Commons this week, MPs raised concerns about pharmacy funding at a debate on health spending yesterday.

Danny Beale, Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said that while the new deal for GPs was 'a welcome first step in improving primary care provision', he stressed that 'primary care is much more than just general practice, and other components of primary care are still in a state of crisis'.

'Community pharmacies are on the same flat funding contract that expired in late 2024, and that funding model is clearly inadequate,' he said.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire and the party spokesperson for health and social care Helen Morgan also raised concerns about pharmacy closures, dispensing at a loss, increases to employer National Insurance Contributions and uncertainty around whether Pharmacy First funding will continue beyond April.

Nick Kaye, National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chair, commented: 'As rightly highlighted in parliament, pharmacies face huge financial uncertainty, with significant delays to funding coming at the same time as increases in national insurance, national living wage and business rates all arriving in just a matter of weeks.

'On top of this, no assurances have been given yet about the future of the flagship Pharmacy First initiative, leaving pharmacies and patients in the dark about this vital service.

'It's vitally important the government provide clarity on this and future funding arrangements before it is too late.'

Tax increases 'putting vital services at risk'

Also during the debate, Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon and Opposition Whip Gregory Stafford said: ‘Labour’s tax increases on GPs, pharmacies, care homes and social care providers are putting vital services at risk.’

Dr Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham and shadow minister for health and social care, also raised concerns about increases to employer National Insurance Contributions, highlighting the Independent Pharmacies' Association (IPA)'s estimate that the rises in employer national insurance contributions and the minimum wage will cost the average pharmacy over £12,000 a year.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, IPA chief executive, said it was 'welcome that MPs across the political spectrum recognise the vital role that pharmacies play in delivering healthcare'.

'We echo MPs' concerns about the perilous state of the sector,' she added.

'The Independent Pharmacies Association has warned that increases to National Insurance Contributions will have had a significant impact on the finances of community pharmacies, many of who are struggling to get by or at risk of closure. Coupled with uncertainty about the future financial settlement for the sector, many pharmacies are facing an uncertain time.

'We were pleased to see that last months the House of Lords voted to exempt community pharmacy from the rise in employers’ NI and we are pleased to see that MPs are quoting our data in the House of Commons regarding the impact of this rise on our sector.

'It is vital now that ministers listen to these concerns and deliver a fair financial settlement for the sector, including exempting pharmacies from the rise to employer National Insurance Contributions,' she said.

No update on funding until negotiations conclude

In response to MPs comments during the House of Commons debate, new parliamentary under-secretary of state for public health and prevention Ashley Dalton said: 'We have committed to look at how we can further expand the role of pharmacies and better utilise the clinical skills of pharmacists, and we have now resumed our consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding the funding arrangements for 2024/25 and 2025/26. I am unable to say any more on that until the consultation has finished.'