Numark chairman Harry McQuillan has drawn on his experience of heading up a negotiating body by warning that Community Pharmacy England’s committee could take a while to agree to any terms the Government puts on the table as the latest round of funding talks start.

McQuillan, who was chief executive of Community Pharmacy Scotland for 17 years before joining Numark in January last year, said the announcement yesterday that discussions between Labour and CPE would begin was “a welcome development.”

However, he warned pharmacies in England, who have been operating without a contract since April 2024 when the last five-year deal expired, that although CPE’s committee could agree to any new terms quickly, it could be a “protracted” process.

“My experience in this area would tell me that the likely next steps in this process will be an offer made to CPE that will then need to be debated, countered and/or accepted by that Board,” McQuillan told Independent Community Pharmacist.

“Depending on the nature of the offer, that timescale can be very short or protracted.”

He said he hoped “all the evidence” the pharmacy sector has produced to highlight its value will sway the Government to put forward a “substantial stabilising offer” for 2024-25 and “new money” for 2025-26.

“That will re-engage the network and give confidence to owners to invest for a clinical future,” McQuillan said, insisting Numark will “review any settlement and ensure it adapts its offer to its members.”

Meanwhile, Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said he was “pleased delayed negotiations” has started but warned pharmacy “urgently needs an uplift in funding to stabilise the network, halt further closures and ensure patients receive the medicines they need.”

“There has been a 40 per cent real terms cut in funding since 2015,” he said. “This has led to the closure of over 1,200 pharmacies since 2017, 35 per cent of which have occurred in the 20 per cent most deprived communities in England.

“Additional funding is necessary to realise the three shifts the government envisages for the NHS, particularly in shifting care out into the community and prevention.”