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The government’s announcement today that NHS England will be abolished has been cautiously welcomed by organisations representing community pharmacy.

Outlining the rationale behind the decision during a speech in Hull, the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted it was necessary to “cut bureaucracy”, save money and put the NHS “at the heart of government where it belongs”.

Scrapping NHS England, which the government said will take two years to complete and save “hundreds of millions” of pounds, marks a reversal of the 2012 Lansley reforms under the last Conservative government when NHSE was created to run the health service. 

However, NHSE has been criticised in pharmacy, notably for its PR campaign around Pharmacy First, sluggish roll-out of pharmacy prescribing pathfinder sites, failure to maximise pharmacy’s medicines optimisation role, slow pharmacy access to GP patient records and failure to publish the economic analysis of community pharmacy before funding talks started this year.

NPA: NHS England's abolition must release funds into the frontline

National Pharmacy Association chair Nick Kaye said he hoped the abolition of NHSE will “release much-needed funds for the frontline” and insisted the NPA will “work closely” with the Government moving forward.

“Pharmacies are frontline providers that together see more patients every day than any other part of the healthcare system,” he said.

“The National Pharmacy Association will work closely with whatever structures the Government establishes to secure and improve the vital pharmacy services upon which millions of patients rely.

“Ministers have inherited a crisis in pharmacy and need to do everything they can to prevent further damage to pharmacy services, so we hope these changes release much-needed funds for the frontline.”

Kaye added: “We naturally feel for the staff who are affected by this change and we hope the process of reorganisation does not impede progress towards creating the stronger pharmacy network we all want.”

Independent Pharmacies Association chief executive Leyla Hannbeck said “any reforms that reduce bureaucracy and streamline administration in the healthcare system are welcome”.

However, she insisted “the test for these reforms will be whether cost savings can be channelled back into frontline patient care”.

“The focus of this Government must be investing in the front door of healthcare and primary care services such as pharmacies,” she said. “A reorganisation of the NHS should prioritise this aim, not distract from it.”

CCA chief: NHSE has played a vital role leading the NHS

The Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “NHS England has played a vital role in leading the NHS through an extremely challenging period. Obviously, this announcement will be unsettling for hard-working staff in NHSE.

“We support the government’s stated aim of streamlining decision making and redirecting funding to frontline services, including community pharmacies.

“After 10 years of cuts and pay freezes, pharmacies are in dire need of a funding uplift.”

NHS England is to blame for community pharmacy’s predicament

However, pharmacy contractor Mike Hewitson, a councillor at Somerset Council who is running for election to the NPA board, told Independent Community Pharmacist NHS England was to blame “almost entirely for the position community pharmacy currently finds itself in”.

“I've never come across another institution which is as impervious to accountability,” he said. 

“It has been an abject failure. Of course, all change comes with risk, but I think this is a brilliant opportunity for a fresh start and a new approach.”

RPS: Crucial talks on community pharmacy contract remain secure

England Pharmacy Board chair Tase Oputu said the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has “asked the Government for more details on any proposed transition and its impact on pharmacy colleagues".

“We recognise the hard work and dedication of our colleagues across NHSE, especially during this challenging time,” she said. “There has been real progress in advancing the role of pharmacists across the NHS, and it is vital that planned reforms do not lose sight of this crucial ambition.

“Fully funded, well supported pharmacy teams across all sectors are essential for delivering quality patient care.”

Oputu urged the Government to "consider how to resource and enable pharmacists to help deliver new treatments and support the best use of medicines across the system" as it develops its 10-year plan for the NHS which is expected to be published this summer.

She also insisted it was "crucial pharmacy continues to have representation in the reorganised NHS and negotiations for the community pharmacy contract remain secure”.

Image: www.parliament.uk