By Harry McQuillan

2024 saw a lot of significant moments for community pharmacy. The year began with the launch of Pharmacy First in England, a pivotal milestone and one welcomed by me, having seen the transformative effect it’s already had in Scotland.  

Early indications are that patient access to Pharmacy First in Scotland up to the end of December 2024 has increased by 20% when compared to the previous year. I believe there’s a huge potential to expand the scope of Pharmacy First and the role pharmacists currently play in protecting public health but of course, it must be funded correctly, and pharmacists must be provided with adequate time and training to be able to deliver this much needed service for customers.  

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Later in 2024, we saw regulatory change around hub-and-spoke dispensing but soon after came the disappointing news that the promised legislation won’t come into effect until this year. Off the back of the launch of Pharmacy First, this was both inevitable and necessary to level the playing field for all pharmacy owners regarding present day medicine assembly and patient need. This is particularly relevant as community pharmacy shifts towards the provision of more patient services.  

The advent of a new Labour Government pledged a transformative future for the NHS. It is crucial that community pharmacy is given the recognition and support it needs to play a central role in healthcare delivery. Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting’s vision for the NHS must include empowering pharmacies to fully utilise their clinical expertise.  

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I expect the details of their full plan to become clear throughout 2025, but community pharmacy must not be forgotten, in fact, it ought to be a central component of protecting and enhancing the country’s health infrastructure.  

Last year’s Autumn Budget promised a £22 billion increase in NHS funding and Streeting’s vision of shifting the NHS focus from “sickness to prevention” aligns with the role community pharmacies are ideally positioned to play, but the announced national insurance plans are a damning blow to community pharmacies up and down the country.  

Independent community pharmacies are at the heart of healthcare for countless communities, but rising operational costs, including the increase in national insurance and minimum wage, will push many to the brink. So many have already had to shut their doors, leaving the community they used to serve without, what is for so many, a lifeline. The government must provide sustainable funding, and they must do it immediately.   

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I see a more significant role for community pharmacies in clinical service delivery, driven by technological advancements and the utilisation of data. This provides a roadmap for community pharmacies to expand their services, improve patient outcomes, and address rising healthcare demands as an integral part of a broader healthcare ecosystem. 

Ahead of England’s NHS 10-year plan, Northern Ireland’s 2030 vision for community pharmacy, the awaited Scottish replacement for “Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care” along with Wales’ “A New Prescription” launched in 2022, I urge all community pharmacies to consider how best to prepare for and support reform because it will come.   

I remain optimistic that community pharmacy will evolve and grow for the better in 2025. The level of talent, skills and expertise across our own estate tells us we’re in a strong position to positively embrace and create opportunities out of change.  

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I look forward to the coming year with expectation and hope. The potential for pharmacy is almost unlimited. Even against a tumultuous and uncertain backdrop, pharmacies across all four UK countries continue to provide a much wanted, valued and needed service for the communities they serve.  

With the right funding and support in place, they have the power to revolutionise the way we access healthcare. I’m sure 2025 will bring its challenges but, if managed correctly, I believe the sector will relish pending change and the new era for pharmacy it will inevitably bring. 

Harry McQuillan is chairman of Numark and former chief executive of Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS).