The APPG on Pharmacy Chair, Sadik Al Hassan MP, has welcomed the appointment of Dame Diana Johnson as Minister with responsibility for pharmacy, describing it as an important opportunity to build on recent progress and ensure community pharmacy is able to play its full role in delivering the Government’s health priorities.
Sadik Al Hassan, MP for North Somerset and Chair of Pharmacy APPG commented:
"On behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy I would like to congratulate Dame Diana Johnson on her appointment as the Minister with responsibility for pharmacy. Community pharmacy has a vital role to play in delivering the Government's ambitions for prevention, neighbourhood health and improved access to care, and this appointment comes at an important moment for the sector.
While the recent funding settlement for community pharmacy was a welcome step in the right direction, it must be viewed as the start of a longer journey to secure the future of the sector with a multi year settlement towards profitability. Community pharmacies continue to face significant pressures, but they also have enormous potential to improve access to care, support prevention and help deliver the Government's ambition of providing more care closer to home.
We look forward to working with Dame Diana and the wider Government to ensure pharmacy is equipped to play its full role in supporting patients, communities and the wider NHS.’’