OPEN LETTER - Changes to Community pharmacies in Wales
Below this letter is the response received from Welsh Government.
Sent via email to: Eluned.Morgan@senedd.wales
Open Letter
17th February 2022
Eluned Morgan MS
Minister for Health and Social Services
19 Cartlett
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 2LH
Dear Ms Morgan
Community pharmacies in Wales - Extended range of services as part of substantial reforms agreed by the Health Minister
I would firstly like to make you aware that this is an ‘Open Letter’ and has been made available on the Community Council website and social media.
The council and its members have become aware that as from April 2022 there will be a wider range of services to be provided by all Pharmacies in Wales. Pharmacies will become the first point of call regarding all minor ailments. This according to the Welsh Government will free up the doctors’ time to enable them to see more serious cases.
The council at the February meeting included this on the agenda and considered how this will affect our community and our residents and there were a number of problems and concerns identified:
1. There is only one pharmacy serving approx. 5000 residents (plus the further ongoing development plans for the village which will increase the population).
2. The pharmacy does not have a waiting room so people will have to queue outside or on a bad weather day will sit and wait in their cars. Unfortunately, our pharmacy has very limited parking facilities.
3. There will be privacy issues for residents wishing to consult with the pharmacist.
4. Limited public transport for residents to use alternative pharmacies.
5. These changed will take the pharmacist away from doing the job of prescribing prescriptions for our residents.
6. The council please request that these very important and impactful changes are highlighted and communicated by Welsh Government to all residents. It is understood from a local member that when this question was previously put to you, you stated that the reason Welsh Government were not writing to every household is they had already done so and listed the following leaflet: Keep Wales Safe This Winter . On reviewing this Welsh Government promotional material, it is about how everyone can help keep Wales safe from coronavirus this winter. The only reference it makes to pharmacies is ‘Find services near you, such as your local community pharmacy, which can help you with many common problems, such as sore throats, colds and flu, back pain, chicken pox, and indigestion. This does not highlight in anyway the extended range of services as part of substantial reforms agreed by yourself.
I would like to stress that these concerns are in no way directed at our pharmacy as we consider they provide an invaluable service to our residents, but, it is directed at Welsh Government for the lack of consideration on how these changes will affect smaller pharmacies, village communities and for the lack of communication.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Sarah A Hughes - CiLCA
Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
Cc’d: Jack Sargeant MS - Jack.Sargeant@senedd.wales
Mark Isherwood MS - Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales
Sam Rowlands MS - Sam.Rowlands@senedd.wales
Llyr Gruffydd MS - Llyr.Gruffydd@senedd.wales
Carolyn Thomas MS - Carolyn.Thomas@Senedd.Wales
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Mrs Hughes
Thank you for your email below. I have been asked to reply.
Following my previous response to Pen-Y-Ffordd Community Council you will be aware of the changes being made to contractual arrangements for community pharmacies in Wales from April 2022 outlined in Presgripsiwn Newydd: A New Prescription that we published in December.
The intention of the changes is to recognise the expertise and accessibility of pharmacists working in communities across Wales and provide improvements in choice and access for patients alongside the other NHS services provided by other healthcare professionals in primary care. By visiting a pharmacy many people can have their health and advice needs met promptly without needing to book an appointment. Over 98% of community pharmacies in Wales have a designated consultation room for private consultations to be undertaken. Members of the public can ask to speak confidentially to the pharmacist for advice at any point and all services will be provided in the privacy of a consultation room. The changes we are making will encourage more pharmacies to adapt their premises to ensure clinical services can be provided appropriately.
The changes we have agreed provide for a sustainable future for community pharmacies in Wales, a future that is increasingly clinically focussed with an emphasis on providing advice and support for people to stay healthy. Importantly they also recognise the vital role pharmacies play in supplying people’s medication.
We will not be writing to every individual household in Wales in response to the recent announcement of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. However, details of the range of ways people can access NHS services, including the services available in community pharmacies was part of the Keep Wales Safe leaflet that was sent to all households across Wales in December.
Further information on NHS services can be found on the NHS 111 website and specific information regarding the extended range of services as part of substantial reforms agreed by the Welsh Government, Community Pharmacy Wales and NHS are outlined in Presgripsiwn Newydd: A New Prescription.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Morgan
Tîm Business y Llywodraeth a Corfforaethol / Government and Corporate Business Team
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