Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Dyke Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd January 2024

(10 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sarah Dyke Portrait Sarah Dyke (Somerton and Frome) (LD)
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T5. I recently met the staff of a pharmacy in Bruton in my constituency to hear about some of the challenges it is facing. Community pharmacists are dispensing some of the country’s most widely prescribed drugs at a loss, therefore subsidising the NHS. What steps is the Secretary of State’s Department taking to prevent the closure of community pharmacists?

Victoria Atkins Portrait Victoria Atkins
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We are ensuring that community pharmacists have an even greater role in primary care than they have already. For example, we saw the first stage of the roll-out of Pharmacy First in December, with blood pressure checks and contraceptive care being rolled out. I am very pleased that we are on track to deliver the full roll-out of Pharmacy First by the end of the month.