Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Paragraph: 97
Medicine shortages reinforce public concerns about GP referrals from community pharmacies.
Conclusion
Public concerns about being referred back to the GP if they use community pharmacy to access healthcare should ring alarm bells for the Government. It is encouraging that this does not seem to be the experience within Pharmacy First, but we know that medicine shortages are driving people back to their GPs. We are concerned that this reinforces the public concerns.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government stated that funding for the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) is under review as part of the 2025/26 GP contract arrangements, with final details to be published after the consultation concludes, rather than directly addressing public concerns about GP referrals or medicine shortages.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
97
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
Accept. As set out in our manifesto we are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including by cutting red tape. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists. In 2024 NHS England continues the promotion of the Pharmacy First service through a further multi-media campaign, aimed at raising public awareness and confidence of the service. The Government and NHS England will review the success of that campaign and look at how we can build on it in order to promote Pharmacy First going forwards.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗