Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison has said she is concerned Rishi Sunak’s announcement yesterday of a general election on July 4 could delay its ongoing 2024-25 funding negotiations with the Government.

Morrison (pictured) said: “The prospect of more delays is deeply concerning for pharmacy owners”. However, she insisted CPE is focused on “accelerating” the talks in the next few weeks or with a new government which, according to polls, looks like being Labour.

“We will be discussing the impact on the ongoing 2024-25 pharmacy funding negotiations with the Department of Health and Social Care,” she said. “The prospect of more delays is deeply concerning for pharmacy owners who urgently need good news. Accelerating this negotiation, whether in the coming weeks or with the new Government, remains our focus.”

Morrison said CPE has spent “many months” preparing for an election date by “briefing and building support for community pharmacy across all political parties”.

“That work remains urgent and critical,” she insisted. “Community pharmacies are in deep distress and we will continue to raise this and to warn about the risks of failing to support pharmacies across the political spectrum, as well as highlighting the value that community pharmacy still has to offer if it has the right investment and support.”

Morrison also said CPE will today meet with LPCs to discuss how to build public support for community pharmacies during the election period.

“To support our national engagement, we will be encouraging all LPCs and pharmacy owners to contact their local prospective parliamentary candidates seeking their support for community pharmacy – resources and guidance to help with this are already available,” she said.

Looming cliff edge

National Pharmacy Association chief executive Paul Rees said his organisation will press “all parties hard to commit to solving issues like pharmacy closures and medicine shortages, which are affecting millions in communities across the country who just want access to local health support.”

Insisting the incoming government must “addresses the crisis in primary care and the looming cliff edge facing pharmacies”, Rees said: “The first responsibility of government is keeping its people safe and healthy, which is why is so important that we address the deep funding gap that is pushing record numbers of pharmacies to the edge of closure and beyond, exacerbating the issues of waiting lists for GPs and hospital care.”

Four pharmacy bodies published in March a joint manifesto for community pharmacy in England ahead of the general election.

Community Pharmacy England, the Company Chemists’ Association, the National Pharmacy Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society say the manifesto can be used by anyone in the community pharmacy sector to engage with political parties and candidates in the run-up to the election.

The #VotePharmacy Manifesto can be accessed online.