Oral Answers to Questions

Pauline Latham Excerpts

Tuesday 6th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

We spend 9.9% of our GDP on health. The European Union spends 15%, and the richer EU countries spend 9.6%—slightly less than us, on average. We are able to spend more because this Government put the economy back on its feet.

[Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con)]

12. What plans he has to expand the services provided by pharmacies to assist GPs.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Steve Brine)]

It is good to be back.

As I have repeatedly said at the Dispatch Box, pharmacies are a vital frontline service for our NHS, with over 1.2 million health-related visits every day. Community pharmacies have again stepped up during this winter period, and I thank them for their hard work. They have vaccinated more than 1 million people against seasonal flu since October. The Government are committed to ensuring that pharmacies and pharmacists are further embedded in the wider health service.

[Mrs Latham]

I thank the Minister for that answer. Will he come to Derby to meet a constituent who has pharmacies that are working very hard to keep patients out of hospital, therefore saving the NHS money through their innovative ideas?