Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison has insisted her organisation is working “at pace” with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure more patients are referred to Pharmacy First as reports emerge that pharmacies are struggling to reach the minimum number of consultations needed to secure the £1,000 payment.

Pharmacies needed to complete at least 10 consultations in May and June to get the money and the same number will be required this month too. In August and September, the threshold will rise to 20 consultations and 30 from October.

Morrison (pictured) described the ability of pharmacies to reach the threshold as “a major ongoing concern” and insisted the government’s “underwhelming public marketing campaign” had failed to drive enough people to pharmacies since its launch in January.

There have also been concerns that GPs are not referring enough patients to pharmacies. Morrison insisted it was “completely unreasonable to penalise pharmacies financially for the NHS’ failure to drive public and general practice behaviour changes.”

“Frustratingly, the ability of pharmacy owners to reach the monthly payment thresholds is a major ongoing concern,” she said. “Pharmacies are reliant on NHS England and the Department to drive people to the service, but following an underwhelming public marketing campaign, we don’t think we are seeing the numbers of walk-ins or referrals needed.

“Many questions remain, including about the full impact of seasonality, and we are working through these at pace with the NHS and Department. During the original negotiations on Pharmacy First we had to argue very strongly for the upfront and monthly payments and we will continue to stress to the new Government just how critical these payments are.”

Ludicrous scenario needs addressing urgently

Last month, pharmacist and former National Pharmacy Association board member Reena Barai said she had been caught up in a “ludicrous scenario” where she had completed nine consultations with one and-a-half working days until the end of the month and “desperately trying to meet the minimum required for the monthly fixed payment.”

She said she had struggled to hit the target despite speaking to “primary care colleagues many times” about the situation, engaging with patients and patient groups and using social media to promote the service. She insisted the problem needed “addressing urgently.”

Another pharmacist, Umesh Solanki who runs Holmfield Chemist in Derbyshire, told Independent Community Pharmacist he fears it “will be unachievable for most small and standard-hour pharmacies situated in small population areas” to reach 30 consultations from October.

“I would suggest those pharmacies getting GP referrals will be easily able to achieve the 30 consultations a month and probably more,” he said, insisting it was “unfair” that pharmacies were being “penalised due to GP inertia on pharmacy referrals.”

He said he had promoted the service in a local magazine and on his pharmacy’s Facebook and Instagram pages and handed out leaflets to patients about Pharmacy First.

“We have various window posters and in-store displays about the service. I have also written, e-mailed and visited the GP surgeries in my area but have had little success with referrals. I have, however, had a few informal referrals,” he said.

“My average consultations are 12 per month since February. I am not confident that I will be able to reach 30 consultations per month from October unless GPs get behind the service and start maximising referrals.”

'Not a single GP referral,' says independent pharmacist

Udayasinh Thakrar told ICP at the end of April that his pharmacy, Jai Chemist in King's Lynn, had not received a single GP referral.

“For us it is not going after the initial bubble. The only thing we are doing is emergency supply through 111 online at the weekends,” he said.

NPA chief executive Paul Rees said Pharmacy First “isn't working” as “lots of contractors struggle to hit thresholds” and insisted his organisation was pressing the government to ensure all contractors get the £1,000 payment regardless of the number of consultations they complete.

He also said the NPA has “asked GP leaders to do more to encourage GPs to refer” to Pharmacy First.