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<p>The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) 2019-24 five-year deal outlines a joint vision for how community pharmacy will be more integrated into the NHS, deliver more clinical services and become the first port of call for minor illnesses, helping to reduce pressure on other parts of the NHS. Through the deal pharmacies have already introduced several new services, such as the New Medicines Service, enabling community pharmacies to provide extra support to patients newly prescribed certain medicines, and the Discharge Medicines Service, enabling hospitals to refer recently discharged patients to a community pharmacy for support with new medication. NHS111 and GPs can refer patients to a community pharmacist for a minor illness consultation and most pharmacies now also offer blood pressure checks.</p><p>On 22 September last year, we announced the agreement for the remainder of the five-year deal, which includes a further one-off investment in the sector of £100 million. This agreement continues the expansion of the services offered by community pharmacies, by enabling community pharmacists to manage and initiate contraception, provide extra support for patients newly prescribed antidepressants and, enabling urgent and emergency care settings to refer patients to a community pharmacist for a minor illness consultation or for an urgent medicine supply.</p><p>The number of trainee pharmacists is uncapped and driven by market forces. Since 2017, trainee numbers have averaged 2,500 a year. This has resulted in a year-on-year growth in the number of pharmacists on the professional register, which as of November 2022 (latest data), stands at 52,885 pharmacists in England across all settings. Health Education England is also working with Higher Education Institutions to implement reforms to pharmacists’ initial education and training, so they can play a greater role in providing clinical care to patients and the public, including prescribing medicines.</p> |