Community Pharmacies

Catherine McKinnell Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab)]

rose—

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

rose—

[Jonathan Ashworth]

Because she represents my mother’s home town, I will give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston.

[Jonathan Ashworth]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the cuts have aroused so much opposition from not just Labour but Conservative Members.

[Catherine McKinnell]

My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. Over the past few years, a significant amount of work has been put into the Think Pharmacy First campaign, whose aim is to take pressure off GPs, ambulances and A & E services, but is “Think Pharmacy First for cuts and closures” really what the Government have in mind?

[Jonathan Ashworth]

My hon. Friend has made a powerful point, which completely blows apart many of the arguments that the Government have advanced in recent years.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Whitford]

It is crucial that the service covers all areas, including those that are deprived and those that do not have good public transport. Distance is not everything; this is also about how people travel that distance. In many places, the distance involved might not be that great, but there simply may not be a bus going in the required direction.

[Catherine McKinnell]

I wanted to make this point to the Minister: the closure of community pharmacies will clearly lead to a poorer service, a loss of patient choice and poorer health outcomes for those in more deprived parts of the country. Is this not just another example of Government short-term cuts that will cost us more in the long term?

[Dr Whitford]

If this is introduced badly, the cost will be greater in the long term. When the Minister talks about a more service-based approach, I think that he aspires to something more like the Scottish model, which I would commend. I just feel that this is being done “backside forward”.