Agenda item

Robbie Goatham, Manager at Healthwatch Kent; Lucie Price, Outcomes Officer at Healthwatch Kent and Shilpa Shah, CEO at Kent Local Pharmacy Committee were in attendance for this item at the invitation of the committee.

1.    The recent Healthwatch Kent report called “Pharmacies and Covid: the reality” was appended to the agenda. It outlined the experiences of local community pharmacies during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2.    Robbie Goatham and Lucie Price gave a verbal overview of the report. The increased pressure on pharmacies in the areas of staffing and finances were highlighted as areas negatively impacted by Covid-19.

3.    Shilpa Shah updated the committee on recent developments and trends which had influenced the operations of the pharmacy sector in Kent. She confirmed that issues related to inadequate stock levels of PPE during the first wave had since been resolved and that pharmacies now had access to an emergency PPE portal set up by the Department of Health and Social Care.

4.    Mrs Shah noted that a future Covid-19 vaccine had the potential to create challenges to the operating capacity of community pharmacies. It was cited that the total number of pharmacies in Kent had decreased, the delay between spending on pharmaceuticals and renumeration as well as the cost of delivery services were given as contributing factors.

5.    Mrs Shah responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)                Mrs Shah confirmed that central government had reimbursed pharmacies for delivering prescriptions to individuals who had received the NHS England shielding letter during the pandemic.

b)                asked whether the overall sentiment of community pharmacists in Kent was positive or negative for the future, Mrs Shah affirmed that the outlook was largely negative when possible drug shortages, attributed to the possible effects of Brexit and Covid-19 were considered alongside financial pressures;

c)                when asked to explain the cause of the recent spike in certain drug prices, Mrs Shah explained that price increases had occurred primarily due to a greater reliance on pharmaceutical imports, as a result of low domestic stock levels in certain areas;

d)                 asked whether electronic prescription systems could be improved to negate issues related to urgent and emergency submissions, Mrs Shah agreed that systems required further development and better communication with health services to improve accessibility and urgent use. She noted further that a greater level of information, training and support for individuals with basic IT skills would be necessary; and

e)                when asked how a parity of esteem could be raised, so that pharmacies were merited a similar level of public respect as other health services, Mrs Shah commented that raising the profile of community pharmacies would be best served through Parliamentary promotion. Local MPs supporting local services was highlighted in this regard.  

6.    It was RESOLVED that the Committee:

a)    note the report;

b)    support the achievement of community pharmacies during the pandemic and express its appreciation for the work undertaken to keep the residents of Kent safe; and

c)    request a further update on the work of local pharmacies after the roll-out of the NHS 111 First service.