Pharmacy leaders call on politicians to sign up to community pharmacy manifesto

A manifesto intended to put community pharmacy at the heart of healthcare delivery in primary care was launched at the House of Commons on 3 December 2014 by Sir Keith Barron, MP, chairman of the All-Party Pharmacy Group.

Pharmacy Voice, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and the Independent Pharmacy Federation (IPF), which jointly produced the document — ‘A manifesto for community pharmacy’ — want all political parties to sign up to the five pledges outlined in it.

The pledges are: encouraging patients to think pharmacy first; making it easier to commission pharmacy services; recognising the accessibility and support community pharmacies can provide in helping to improve public health; enabling patients to get more from their medicines through using community pharmacies; and helping pharmacists get access to patients’ records in order to provide safer care.

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, says community pharmacy needs to move up the political agenda, so pharmacy teams should encourage members of Parliament and parliamentary candidates to visit their pharmacies and support the pledges.

IPF chief executive Claire Ward agrees. “The best way to raise the profile of community pharmacy is to get MPs through the door and seeing the services provided,” she says.

PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe says that the three organisations are working to gain politicians’ support for the manifesto. “If we can do that then we will add yet more weight to our case and, I hope, help us to continue getting the best for community pharmacy, developing the service for the benefit of both patients and the NHS.”

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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, Pharmacy leaders call on politicians to sign up to community pharmacy manifesto;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2014.20067333

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