Mentions:
1: Gray, Neil (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) , continue the prevention work that primary care does to avoid further longer-term ill health, and ensure - Speech Link
2: Gray, Neil (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) That is true across Scotland but is particularly the case in rural and island communities. - Speech Link
3: Gulhane, Sandesh (Con - Glasgow) GPs are struggling and primary care is on its knees. - Speech Link
4: Gray, Neil (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) and social care portfolio but across the Government—Sandesh Gulhane would shift resource in order to - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Mackay, Gillian (Green - Central Scotland) I thank the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for its scrutiny of the bill over the past few months.I - Speech Link
2: Johnstone, Alison (NPA - Lothian) I call Clare Haughey to speak on behalf of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. - Speech Link
3: Mackay, Gillian (Green - Central Scotland) At that time, Humza Yousaf was the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and he made support - Speech Link
Correspondence Apr. 30 2024
Committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)Found: Commons Palace of Westminster Westminster SW1A 0AA efracom @parliament.uk 020 7219 1119 Social
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term financial viability of community pharmacies in rural areas.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The below table shows the total number of community pharmacies that have closed and opened in rural areas in England, as defined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Guide to applying the Rural Urban Classification to data, each year from 2019 to 2023:
Year | Number of rural pharmacies closed | Number of rural pharmacies opened |
2019 | 13 | 3 |
2020 | 6 | 1 |
2021 | 8 | 8 |
2022 | 8 | 3 |
2023 | 13 | 8 |
Community pharmacies are private businesses, contracted to provide National Health Service pharmaceutical services. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for ensuring that patients can access medicines, and the Department is monitoring changes to the market closely. In areas where there are fewer pharmacies, the Pharmacy Access Scheme provides financial support to the pharmacies that are present.
Every three years, local authorities in England undertake pharmaceutical needs assessments for their areas, to ensure provision continues to meet their population’s needs. Integrated care boards have regard to those assessments when commissioning services, and where a pharmacy closure impacts access to services, a new contractor can apply to open a pharmacy in the area.
When a local pharmacy closes, patients can choose to access pharmaceutical services through any alternative pharmacy, including any of the over 400 distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver medicines to patients free of charge. In some rural areas, doctors are permitted to dispense medicines.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many community pharmacies in rural areas closed in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, and (5) 2023.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The below table shows the total number of community pharmacies that have closed and opened in rural areas in England, as defined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Guide to applying the Rural Urban Classification to data, each year from 2019 to 2023:
Year | Number of rural pharmacies closed | Number of rural pharmacies opened |
2019 | 13 | 3 |
2020 | 6 | 1 |
2021 | 8 | 8 |
2022 | 8 | 3 |
2023 | 13 | 8 |
Community pharmacies are private businesses, contracted to provide National Health Service pharmaceutical services. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for ensuring that patients can access medicines, and the Department is monitoring changes to the market closely. In areas where there are fewer pharmacies, the Pharmacy Access Scheme provides financial support to the pharmacies that are present.
Every three years, local authorities in England undertake pharmaceutical needs assessments for their areas, to ensure provision continues to meet their population’s needs. Integrated care boards have regard to those assessments when commissioning services, and where a pharmacy closure impacts access to services, a new contractor can apply to open a pharmacy in the area.
When a local pharmacy closes, patients can choose to access pharmaceutical services through any alternative pharmacy, including any of the over 400 distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver medicines to patients free of charge. In some rural areas, doctors are permitted to dispense medicines.
Written Evidence Apr. 29 2024
Inquiry: The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative ConsentFound: GOU0002 - The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent University
Apr. 29 2024
Source Page: Scottish Government call for evidence: tackling consumption of single-use food containers and other commonly littered or problematic single-use items - summary of responsesFound: Scottish Government call for evidence: tackling consumption of single-use food containers and other commonly
Apr. 29 2024
Source Page: Ending HIV Transmission in Scotland by 2030: HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan 2023-26: Island Communities Impact AssessmentFound: into equitable and accessible HIV care and treatment, thereby improving health and quality of life,
Apr. 29 2024
Source Page: Scottish Government SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan 2024-2026Found: Scottish Government SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan 2024-2026
Mentions:
1: Baroness Janke (LD - Life peer) A poor-quality diet based on cheapness often results in obesity, poor health and future lifelong health - Speech Link
2: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) care workers, and many of their children are those who are living in poverty. - Speech Link
3: Lord Shipley (LD - Life peer) for giving help and advice to those who suffer from ill health. - Speech Link