Community pharmacy leaders have expressed hope that the government's decision to abolish NHS England (NHSE) will mean more funding can be redirected to community pharmacy.

Meanwhile, the sector's negotiator has pledged to work with 'whatever new structures and teams' are in place, while continuing to be 'fully focused' on current funding negotiations.

This morning, the government announced its intention to bring NHSE into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 'to put an end to the duplication resulting from two organisations doing the same job'.

And it suggested that this could deliver 'hundreds of millions of pounds a year' in savings that will then be reinvested into frontline services.

It was also revealed today that integrated care boards (ICBs) have been asked to cut their workforce by 50%, which equates to around 12,500 staff across the health system.

Responding to the decision to scrap NHSE, a Community Pharmacy England (CPE) spokesperson said the negotiator would 'continue to make the case for community pharmacy by working closely with whatever new structures and teams the Government deems appropriate in the future'.

'In the meantime, we remain fully focussed on the current Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework negotiations taking place with both NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care,' they added.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), said NHS reforms should seek to move more funding into pharmacy and other parts of primary care.

'Any reforms that reduce bureaucracy and streamline administration in the healthcare system are welcome,' she said.

'However, the test for these reforms will be whether cost savings can be channelled back into frontline patient care.

'The focus of this government must be investing in the "front door" of healthcare and primary care services such as pharmacies, doctors and dentists. A reorganisation of the NHS should prioritise this aim, not distract from it.'

Meanwhile, Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), pledged to 'work closely with whatever structures the government establishes to secure and improve the vital pharmacy services upon which millions of patients rely'.

'Pharmacies are frontline providers that together see more patients every day than any other part of the healthcare system.

'Ministers have inherited a crisis in pharmacy and need to do everything they can to prevent further damage to pharmacy services - so we hope these changes release much-needed funds for the frontline.

'We naturally feel for the staff who are affected by this change and we hope the process of reorganisation does not impede progress towards creating the stronger pharmacy network we all want,' he added.

Chief executive of the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) Malcolm Harrison also acknowledged that today's announcement would be 'unsettling for hard-working staff in NHSE', saying the organisation 'has played a vital role in leading the NHS through an extremely challenging period'.

'We support the government’s stated aim of streamlining decision making and redirecting funding to frontline services, including community pharmacies. After 10 years of cuts and pay freezes, pharmacies are in dire need of a funding uplift,' he added.

Tase Oputu, England board chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), also recognised 'the hard work and dedication of our colleagues across NHSE'

She said it was 'vital' that NHS reforms did not lose sight of the 'crucial ambition' of 'advancing the role of pharmacists across the NHS'.

'Fully funded, well-supported pharmacy teams across all sectors are essential for delivering quality patient care,' she added.

And she said the RPS had asked the Government for 'more details on any proposed transition and its impact on pharmacy colleagues'.

'Medicines are a fundamental part of the health service and the UK’s life sciences success story. As it develops a 10-Year-Health-Plan, the Government must consider how to resource and enable pharmacists to help deliver new treatments and support the best use of medicines across the system. It’s crucial that pharmacy continues to have representation in the reorganised NHS and that negotiations for the community pharmacy contract remain secure,' Ms Oputu said.