Community Pharmacy Scotland gets 6% global sum uplift

The negotiator for community pharmacies in Scotland has reached a deal on funding for the sector for 2024/25, it has announced.

The deal was agreed with the Scottish Government yesterday following 'considerable effort on both sides of the negotiating table to reach a mutually acceptable solution', Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) said.

It gives the sector a 6%, or £13.2m, uplift on the Global Sum, increasing it to £232.67m, while the guaranteed minimum for reimbursement has been set at £110 million, up from £100 million in 2023/24.

'We are pleased to get the deal finalised and hope that this goes some way in alleviating pressures on the community pharmacy network,' CPS CEO Matt Barclay said.

But the negotiator noted that growing business costs are a 'continual' pressure for contractors, and said they would remain a priority for future negotiations.

Related Article: Anticoagulant Inhixa recalled due to typo

'Whilst the deal provides a period of stability, it will not support significant service development this year.

We are hopeful for steps forward in this area in future years and look forward to engaging with our Scottish Government colleagues on how this can be achieved to support the wider NHS,' CPS added.

And it said it would be sharing further details on this year's financial settlement 'in due course'.

It has previously said that hub and spoke discussions could not begin in Scotland until the funding was agreed.

Today, CPS also said the deal had only been made possible by 'maintaining relationships and upholding trust with Scottish Government colleagues'.

'The power of strong communication and professional relationships has never been more important for us to advocate for the community pharmacy network and the NHS services it so vitally delivers,' CPS said.

Commenting on the deal, Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: 'The vital work of community pharmacies is key in ensuring that we continue to reduce the burden across the NHS, and patients continue to get the necessary medicines they need to stay healthy.

'The Scottish Government is matching the largest ever increase to the community pharmacy remuneration Global Sum, for the second year in a row. This £13.2 million, 6% uplift, coupled with the rest of the settlement, will deliver a total of £422 million in guaranteed funding for community pharmacies in Scotland.

'I am pleased our negotiations with Community Pharmacy Scotland were held with the shared aim of putting financial arrangements in place that best support Scotland’s exemplary community pharmacy network while balancing our financial obligations.'

Related Article: Interview: Pharmacy First saves time, prevents escalation, and frees up capacity

In Wales, community pharmacies have been promised an 'above-inflation investment', the details of which are still to be negotiated.

And in England, negotiations on the community pharmacy contractual framework are yet to recommence after delays exacerbated by the general election.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said the timing of the negotiations were 'dictated by government'.

But she said that since the election the negotiator had been working to 'get across the critical situation that community pharmacies are in and the urgency with which the sector needs answers'.

'Government is currently undertaking a Spending Review for 2025/26, with a further Comprehensive Spending Review to follow by next spring. We expect negotiations on the CPCF for 2024/25 to resume soon, and will share further information as soon as we can,' Ms Morrison added.

Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it planned to 'launch a review of community pharmacy funding'.

Related Article: New GPhC chief standards officer appointed

And a spokesperson told The Pharmacist : 'This government inherited a broken NHS and pharmacies have been neglected for years.

'Pharmacies are key to our plans to make healthcare fit for the future as we shift the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community.

'We will make better use of pharmacists’ skills, including rolling out independent prescribing to improve access to care.'