Health secretary to start with pharmacy in primary care reform

Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid has said pharmacy will be the first priority of his ‘plan for change’ for primary care.

Speaking at the NHS Confederation Expo conference, Mr Javid said his planned overhaul of primary care will be set out ‘shortly’, as the current model is ‘not working’, he announced today. 

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He said: ‘I’m grateful to all primary care staff who make a difference to millions of people every single day, but I don’t think our current model of primary care is working.

‘That won’t be a surprise to you. You know, and I think patients know, and everyone working in primary care. We need a plan for change. We’re starting with pharmacy, but I will be setting out my plan shortly.’

Speaking earlier today at the same conference, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard also expressed that ‘the current model of general practice isn’t working as well as it should’.

She said: ‘GPs and the rapidly growing team of other primary care professionals provide treatments and advice and support to more than a million patients every day.

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‘But it’s clear, isn’t it? That the current model of general practice isn’t working as well as it should.’

In March, Mr Javid backed a report that recommended phasing out the GMS contract by 2030, with the majority of GPs contracted by scaled providers such as hospital trusts.

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In March, Mr Javid said pharmacists and other providers in primary care will be expected to play a large role in preventive care under new health reforms set out by the Government.

A version of this article was originally published on our sister title Pulse.