The Welsh Government has announced an 'above-inflation investment' for community pharmacies in Wales – the details of which will be negotiated with Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).

Cabinet secretary for health and social care Mark Drakeford announced this week that he would uplift the pay of NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts by 5.5%, and implement a 6% pay increase for doctors and dentists, as per the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body and Doctors and Dentists Review Body reports.

At the same time, Mr Drakeford also said that he would ‘want to see a fair and proportionate pay uplift across primary care, including community pharmacies, NHS optometry and all staff working in general practice and dental teams’.

A Welsh Government spokesperson told The Pharmacist on Wednesday that this announcement 'guarantees an above-inflation investment in community pharmacies in Wales'.

'Details of how the additional funding is to be distributed will be agreed in upcoming negotiations between the Welsh Government, the NHS and Community Pharmacy Wales,' they said.

'This substantial investment will support continued progress against our shared long-term ambitions for community pharmacy as outlined in Presgripsiwn Newydd - A New Prescription,' the spokesperson added.

Mark Griffiths, chair of CPW, said this was 'a very welcome announcement' that had 'come at a critical time for community pharmacies across Wales who have faced significant financial challenges over an extended period of time'.

He said that the negotiator would now want to work with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to ensure the increased funding could be allocated in a way 'that will enable us to reward and support our pharmacy teams, whilst ensuring that community pharmacy remains a sustainable and viable network across Wales'.

'At the same time, CPW will want to ensure that the recent developments in new and innovative community pharmacy services can be sustained,' he added.

Meanwhile, sector leaders in England have said that community pharmacy could consider 'working to rule' under GP-style collective action, if community pharmacy contract negotiations don't go their way.