Community pharmacies are receiving £300 million to bolster them in carrying out essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak – a period of unprecedented demand for these crucial keyworkers.
The funding injection will support pharmacies in Rutland and Melton as they provide critical care services to protect community health, including supplying medicines and providing medical advice to patients.
Pharmacy contractors have already received £200 million, which was paid alongside their normal monthly payments from the NHS Business Services Authority. A further £100 million will be allocated on 1st May.
In addition to this funding and to allow pharmacies to prioritise the most important tasks, the Department for Health and Social Care (DSHC) has reduced the number of services that community pharmacies are required to deliver.
While still receiving full NHS funding, during this period pharmacies will not be required to pilot new services of carry out non-critical administrative tasks. DSHC is calling pharmacy professionals who have recently left the registers to return to strengthen the workforce capacity and flexibility.
Welcoming this cash boost, Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns said:
“I am pleased that the critical work community pharmacies carry out to protect our health and support the NHS has rightly been recognised. I have been so humbled to see so many Rutland and Melton pharmacies going above and beyond the call of duty to support the most vulnerable in our community.
“Community pharmacies are the backbone of our country’s efforts to beat this virus, and this £300 million cash boost will support them in the completely crucial and hugely appreciated role they play”.
While businesses and most retail venues have been ordered to remain closed, pharmacies are an important exception to this and can remain open, continuing to operate as normally as possible.
