Chief pharmaceutical officer for England David Webb attended a National Pharmacy Association board meeting last week where he pledged his “wholehearted support” to community pharmacies.

At the June 28 meeting in the NPA’s St Albans headquarters, Mr Webb also said he “can envisage a time when pharmacists will help to manage long-term conditions within integrated care systems (ICSs) pathways of care”. 

He said ICSs present an opportunity to “deliver integrated services across larger populations” and “use the skills of pharmacy professionals more, including the use of independent prescribing”.

He set out a number of priorities for his tenure, including independent prescribing, inclusive practice, developing the role of pharmacy technicians and strengthening leadership within the profession. 

He also revealed that NHS England has hired an additional seven regional pharmacy integration leads, doubling the size of the team.

Mr Webb told the meeting: “I believe in the importance of community pharmacy and will listen and engage as I’ve already demonstrated.” 

“Due to the success of existing clinical services, community pharmacy colleagues are a key part of the overall direction of travel for clinical pharmacy practice integrated into ICSs and PCNs for the future.” 

Describing Mr Webb as “someone we can do business with,” NPA chair Andrew Lane said after the meeting: “This is the first visit of a chief pharmaceutical officer for England to an NPA board meeting for many years, and it was a very warm and constructive exchange.

“We take him at his word that he wants to go on a journey with us into a sustainable, clinical future.

“It’s notable that a role for community pharmacy in helping to manage long term conditions is again being talked about at this level. Alongside urgent care and prevention, that gives the feel of a more rounded community pharmacy offer which makes full use of our clinical skill set.”