Pharmacy First

Debate between Andrea Leadsom and Edward Timpson

Wednesday 31st January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Dame Andrea Leadsom]

I am of course happy to read the letter, but I would say that Pharmacy First offers a significant new boost to community pharmacies.

[Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that, across Cheshire and Merseyside, including my Eddisbury constituency, 535 community pharmacies will be starting the Pharmacy First initiative today. Particularly in rural areas, pharmacies are a lifeline for many people. Can she reassure patients of the clinical competence of pharmacists to make prescriptions, and can she reassure pharmacists on the issue of clinical liability?

[Dame Andrea Leadsom]

I can assure my hon. Friend that pharmacists are highly skilled and better trained than ever before in this country. They are fully equipped to meet the demands of their new prescribing role.