Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services
The Welsh Government values the role community pharmacies play as an integral part of primary care in Wales and the hard work of pharmacists and community pharmacy staff. As a reflection of this, we are providing record levels of investment in community pharmacy.
Remuneration for community pharmacy falls outside the scope of the NHS Pay Review Bodies' recommendations, however, we previously committed to a fair and proportionate pay uplift across primary care, covering community pharmacies, NHS optometrists, all staff working in general practice and NHS dental services, in recognition of the vital role they all play in delivering essential services to people in every part of Wales.
I am pleased we have reached an agreement with the NHS and Community Pharmacy Wales, which is the statutory representative body of every community pharmacy, on an increase of 6% in the fees and allowances payable to the sector and the distribution of the additional investment.
The £9.9m increase in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) will take total CPCF funding to £175m a year, representing a 24% increase in funding since 2017.
This investment will be used to address both immediate pressures facing community pharmacies and to maintain momentum on our longer-term ambitions for reform, which are set out in Presgripsiwn Newydd - A New Prescription (gov.wales).
This significant investment will:
- Ensure we maintain progress with our contractual reforms, continuing to reward pharmacies which have successfully transitioned to the new clinical service-led delivery model, and support more pharmacies to make that transition
- Provide pharmacy contractors with longer term certainty on the funding available for dispensing prescriptions, and the level at which dispensing fees will be maintained
- Rebalance funding for the elements of CPCF to take account of changes in the market and provide additional funding to support targeted activities to support our priorities
- Provide contractors and health boards with a clear steer on how this will be distributed in future financial years and during the transition.
This agreement is underpinned by measures to increase capacity within community pharmacies, allowing them to deliver NHS services more effectively.
As well as funding to encourage and reward clinical service provision, there will be continued investment in integrating pharmacies in primary care clusters; ongoing commitment to further development of the skills and scope of practice of the wider community pharmacy workforce including pharmacy technicians, and in the Choose Pharmacy IT system.
We are rapidly rolling out the Electronic Prescription Service, which is now available in the first wave of pharmacies and GP practices in every health board. Amendments have been made to the terms of service for pharmacies to improve the efficiency of dispensing, reduce administrative burden and free up time for pharmacists and their teams to focus on delivering the fullest range of clinical services, improving access to primary care and taking pressure off other parts of the NHS.
We have also made more than £0.5m in capital funding available to pharmacies this year to support investment in automation, new private consultation areas, and reducing community pharmacy’s carbon footprint.
The investment we are making in community pharmacy underpins our ambitious reform of primary care, provides for the long-term sustainability of pharmacies, and will help ensure the NHS maximises the use of the skills and expertise of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the wider pharmacy team in every community in Wales.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.