Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to provide funding for the implementation of a National Minor Ailments Scheme to be operated by community pharmacies and pharmacists.

The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-2024 sets out the ambition for community pharmacy to be further integrated with the National Health Service and provide advice and treatment for minor illnesses. Approximately £13 billion has been allocated to community pharmacy through the Framework, with £2.592 billion in each of the five years. Through the Framework, the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service was introduced to enable staff in NHS 111 and general practices to refer patients to a same day appointment for advice and treatment of minor ailments with a community pharmacist.