Photo by Paul Buffington on Unsplash
The All-Party Parliamentary Pharmacy Group (APPG), which the NPA co-sponsors, hosted a meeting of parliamentarians to explore the contribution of community pharmacy teams within NHS primary care.
Discussions were led by APPG Chair Jackie Doyle-Price MP.
Key themes included:
- Improving access to primary care and preventing ill health.
- Solutions that pharmacies can offer to post-COVID health challenges, including clearing the NHS care backlog
- Unleashing the potential of pharmacy in the new Integrated Care Systems
The NPA’s vice chair, Nick Kaye, gave an overview of the NPA’s recently launched How We Can Help report, which has been shared with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid.
Dr Richard Vautrey, former chair of the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee, discussed the relationship between pharmacy and general practice; Stuart Semple, Interim Chief Pharmacist at an Integrated Care System (ICS), spoke about pharmacy leadership in new health systems; James Semple, vice chair of Community Pharmacy Scotland, shared insights into Scotland’s Pharmacy First scheme.
Nick Kaye to MPs:
“As community pharmacists, we don’t work in a vacuum. We’re most effective when working as part of a team in primary care, with GP colleagues and others, with the patient firmly at the centre of our combined efforts. That’s why it’s going to be so important to get Integrated Care Systems right, with community pharmacy meaningfully engaged in planning and delivery from end-to-end”.
For further information about the work of the APPG go to www.pharmacyappg.co.uk
What are ‘All Party Parliamentary Groups'?
All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups of MPs and peers. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities. There are APPGs for a wide variety of issues, from Modern slavery and Conservation to Jazz Appreciation!