National Pharmacy Association comments on resignation of Pharmacy Minister Steve Brine

Steve Brine MP has resigned as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, where his duties included responsibility for pharmacy.

Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Mark Lyonette, said:

“As Pharmacy Minister, Steve Brine showed a willingness to engage positively with our sector and we hope he will continue an active interest now he is on the backbenches.

“We will make the case to his successor that the current situation in community pharmacy is unsustainable and needs urgent attention – and that we want to work in partnership to make things better for pharmacists, patients and the NHS.  A multi-year funding settlement would help underpin meaningful progress.

“We continue to build stronger relationships with officials and with the Health Secretary who has agreed to attend the NPA conference in June.

“At the same time, our work to help independent pharmacies engage with the NHS at local level will intensify, as we recognise the growing importance of Primary Care Networks in England’s healthcare commissioning infrastructure.”

Steve Brine resigned on 25 March in order to vote against the government on Brexit.