The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy launch rapid inquiry into the impact of the pandemic on pharmacy

17 Nov 2020

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy have launched a flash inquiry into the financial and operational impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on vital pharmacy services that provide such an important face-to-face lifeline to the communities they serve.

Pharmacy teams have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, with community pharmacies remaining open in the face of unprecedented demand, but a unique set of challenges are posing a threat to the sustainability of the sector. MPs have therefore launched the inquiry with a view of securing extra support from the Government and NHS on any extra needs identified.

The flash inquiry aims to examine how pharmacy has coped and responded during the pandemic, the pressures frontline pharmacy teams and pharmacy owners have faced, and whether existing funding structures have been enough to support the sector. A survey of workforce and call for evidence has been launched by the group on Tuesday 17th November 2020 and runs until Monday 30th November.  At the conclusion of the inquiry the APPG will publish a report and a set of recommendations on what support and reforms are needed for the sector to remain sustainable in the future.

Chair of the All-Party Pharmacy Group, Jackie Doyle-Price said: “Pharmacy teams have responded heroically in the face of unprecedented pressure during the pandemic. Maintaining the supply of vital medicines, stepping up to help absorb the additional demands posed by Covid and going above and beyond to ensure services continue.  However, we are hearing so many examples of how the financial and operational challenges faced by community pharmacies are being amplified by the pandemic. In many cases posing an existential threat to them. Our inquiry seeks to rapidly examine these challenges and provide a set of recommendations which can be offered to the Government”.

To feed your views into the inquiry go to this survey. This survey is aimed at people working in pharmacies in England, to understand the response from the pharmacy community during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results will be anonymised and shared on the APPG website in the form of a report. Further details and terms of reference can be found on the APPG website: www.pharmacyappg.co.uk/our-work