Government update to Public Services Committee, 4th report of Session 2022-23: Homecare medicines services: an opportunity lost

This is the government's response, published 29 October 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government gives a concluding progress update on the recommendations it previously accepted, reporting action on KPIs, electronic prescribing and governance, while stating that a thematic CQC review of homecare medicines services "is not deemed necessary".

• On recommendation 3, it reports that NHS England and the National Homecare Medicines Committee have developed revised KPIs (KPI v7), with "co-ordinated implementation during 2025/26" being managed with suppliers and NHS contracting authorities.
• On recommendation 8, it does not commission a CQC thematic review, noting the GPhC published its own thematic review in April and that the CQC are "actively considering" including homecare in planned conversations with NHS trust Chief Pharmacists over 2026.
• On recommendation 11, an electronic prescribing proof of concept went live in August 2025. Subject to its outcomes, "a further 12 - 24 months" of development is "anticipated", with permanent directions and policies needed before scaling beyond the proof of concept.
• On recommendation 13, NHS England has designated the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer as Senior Responsible Officer, and a review of homecare governance arrangements is underway, with recommendations for improvement "expected during Q4 2025/26".

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