The Royal College of Pharmacy has urged MPs to ensure pharmacy expertise is embedded at the heart of NHS reforms, warning that proposed structural changes to the NHS in England must not overlook the profession’s central role in improving access to care, prevention and medicines optimisation.

Measures in the legislation include the abolition of NHS England and transfer of its functions to either the secretary of state or integrated care boards, the abolition of Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch, and enabling the creation of a single patient record.

Key issues highlighted in our evidence include:

NHS reforms

• Pharmacy’s role in delivering the ten-year health plan, supporting patient access to primary care, boosting prevention and managing the growing cost of long-term conditions;
• The importance of pharmacy system leadership to deliver best value from medicines for patients and the health service;
• The abolition of NHS England and the need for policymaking to be shaped by pharmacy expertise.

Improving patient care

• Support for the single patient record, alongside safeguards to ensure public trust and confidence;
• Retaining independent voices, such as Healthwatch and the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, to support patient safety and service improvement;
• Tackling health inequalities caused by prescription charges.

Workforce

• Key workforce issues, including support for staff wellbeing, protected time for professional development and equal access to the Leaning Support Fund for pharmacy students;
• Measures to support workforce transformation and assurance.

RCPharm England Chair Prof Mahendra Patel OBE said:

“The Health Bill presents a real opportunity to shape how care is provided for patients in the decades ahead.

“As MPs scrutinise the Bill, pharmacy teams must be recognised as central to delivering the ten-year health plan. They already increase access to care closer to home and support prevention strategies.

“We are urging the government to ensure pharmacy expertise remains embedded in decision-making, so patients can get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

Read the submission.

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