Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Tuesday 27th November 2018 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to support local pharmacies.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

Community pharmacies play a vital role in our health service, but we know they can do more, and we are determined to see them do more, to keep people healthy.

[Michael Tomlinson]

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer, because he is absolutely right in what he says. The Dorset Local Pharmaceutical Committee is very active and is promoting the policy of Pharmacy First, which should help to relieve pressure on our general practitioners, and even on our accident and emergency facilities. What is he doing to support that policy?

[Matt Hancock]

I agree very much with my hon. Friend that pharmacies can play an increasing role in helping to make sure that people get their healthcare where they need it, and in keeping the pressure off GPs and off secondary care by making sure that people can help themselves to stay healthy. We are piloting 111 directing people to pharmacies as well as to GPs and, where appropriate, to secondary care, and encouraging people to use pharmacies for minor ailments, but there is much more we can do together on this.