Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

North East London LPC launch vision to make pharmacy ‘indispensable’

NORTH East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee (NEL LPC) has launched a report setting out its vision for pharmacy which attempts to place the profession at the forefront of healthcare across local communities based on the high street clinic model.

With pharmacy’s funding set to be squeezed in the coming years, highlighted by an impending £170 million cut to its budget, and technology taking a firm grip on the profession, the environment pharmacists find themselves in is rapidly changing.


The report seeks to address these issues and infuse a sense of urgency within ministers, policy-makers and pharmacists themselves to make the most of pharmacy at what is a critical moment in the profession’s history.

In the report Hemant Patel, the secretary of NEL LPC, writes: “With changes in commissioning, finances, technology and robotics, and a need for new learning and consumer empowerment, we must be brave and forward-looking.

“We are presented with a unique opportunity to re-position community pharmacy and we must seize this opportunity gratefully and with commitment.”

The report, ‘Indispensable: A vision for pharmacy in the 21st century,’ lays out 12 recommendations it wants the government to help pharmacy realise, including a greater role for LPCs, which represent the interests of pharmacists, in repositioning community pharmacy as “a socially responsible profession” as described by the report.

In the report, NEL LPC calls on;

· the health and social care delivery system to be much more effectively integrated with LPCs who, alongside Clinical Commissioning Groups, can act as local facilitators and observers reporting back to NHS England and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

· the government to improve the reporting of the quality of care by involving pharmacy and allowing the profession to design and pilot patient experience measures.

· pharmacies to create a suite of online and in-pharmacy resources to assist all health professionals to reach communities where engagement has been difficult in the past.

· LPCs to trial models where care is provided to children, young people and the elderly based on the high street clinic model and reporting back to government.

· LPCs to work with Health Education England to allow pharmacy to develop and share best practice.

· LPCs and CCGs to develop collaborations with telehealth providers to cultivate pharmacy’s role in local communities.

· a new process of collaboration and stakeholder engagement to integrate pharmacy into local systems.

· LPCs to help bring an end to the fragmentation of public health, adult and mental health services.

· pharmacies to form “a multi-site laboratory” to empower patients through health education and retail opportunity and report results to policy makers.

· LPCs to work with commercial entities such as banks to boost the pharmacy infrastructure and share expertise.

· LPCs to use front-line pharmacies as sites for interactive social marketing and assist in the design and execution of new social marketing strategies.

· LPCs to create a patient engagement hub for pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry across 320 north east London community pharmacies.

The vision may be seen by some within the pharmacy profession as ambitious but Patel has been critical of what he has perceived as independent pharmacists’ inability to adapt to change, something he has long felt needs addressing.

That has become even more critical given that the NHS needs to find £20 billion in efficiency savings by 2020-21 and the government has identified pharmacy as an area where cutbacks can be made.

Expressing his concern that independent community pharmacists have been slow to adapt to change during an interview with Pharmacy Business in 2012, Patel said: “Independents are actually dependents. They do sod all in terms of thinking and they need somebody to think for themselves because they have relinquished responsibility for forward planning.”

It is hoped this report will help address those shortcomings. The government has said it will announce details of how much it is to cut community pharmacy’s funding by in mid-October. The cuts are expected to come into force on December 1.

More For You

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Diwali

This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)

Major changes announced for Leicester’s Diwali celebrations amid safety fears

LDRS

THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.

Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Corbyn- Zarah Sultana

Zarah Sultana with Jeremy Corbyn during a protest outside Downing Street demanding the UK government to stop all arms sales to Israel. (Photo: X/@zarahsultana)

X/@zarahsultana

Zarah Sultana leaves Labour, plans new party with Corbyn and independents

FORMER Labour MP Zarah Sultana has announced her resignation from the party and plans to launch a new political party alongside ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other independent MPs and activists.

Sultana, who represents Coventry South, lost the Labour whip last year for supporting the removal of the two-child benefit cap.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hasmukh Shah

The certificate was presented to Shah at the Welsh parliament by Anita Bailey, Home Office Director Windrush Unit.

Hasmukh Shah receives UK minister’s certificate of appreciation

A prominent Asian doctor has been recognised for his services to the community. Prof Hasmukh Shah has received a certificate of appreciation for his contribution and services to the United Kingdom.

The certificate was issued by Seema Malhotra MP, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, as part of the Windrush Cymru Elders and Race Council Cymru’s Windrush work in Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai-Lama-Getty

Dalai Lama looks on as offerings presented by Buddhist followers are laid on a table during a Long Life Prayer offering ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala, India, on June 30, 2025.(Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India says Dalai Lama alone can decide successor

A SENIOR Indian minister has said that only the Dalai Lama and the organisation he has established have the authority to decide his successor as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The comment runs contrary to China’s long-standing position on the matter.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said on Wednesday that after his death he would be reincarnated as the next spiritual leader, and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust would be able to identify his successor. He had earlier said that the next Dalai Lama would be born outside China.

Keep ReadingShow less