Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to expand community pharmacy provision in (a) Bodmin and (b) North Cornwall.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including by cutting red tape. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.

Local Authorities are required to publish Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments every three years to assess the need for pharmaceutical services in their area. Intergrated care boards are required to consider these assessments when commissioning services to meet their population’s need.