Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Paragraph: 82
Pharmacy's potential to improve healthcare access requires substantial public funding and support.
Conclusion
We have been encouraged to hear the enthusiasm within the pharmacy profession to deliver more patient facing care. However, the undoubted potential for pharmacy to improve access to health care, crucially including immunisations, and reduce pressure on general practice and other areas of the health system can only be realised with the right support and the right investment of public funding.
Government Response Summary
The government details the charging structure for Pharmacy First consultations and prescription medications, and references a 2018 report on over-the-counter medication, instead of addressing the need for increased public funding and support for expanded pharmacy services.
Paragraph Reference:
82
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
There is no charge connected to accessing Pharmacy First for support on one of the seven specified conditions. If the outcome of a Pharmacy First consultation is a supply of a prescription only medication for one of the seven conditions and the individual is exempt from paying a prescription charge (including through the NHS Low Income Scheme) the medication would already be supplied free of charge. If the individual is not exempt from paying prescription charges, they will be charged for this prescription medication as they would if they had consulted their GP. NHS England has explored how to deliver the best value from the NHS spend on medicines. This included the prescribing or supply of over-the-counter medications. The report published in 2018, here, recommended that it would not provide value for money for the taxpayer to provide over-the-counter medication free of charge.