AQO 275/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 21/03/2024
Answered On Date: 15/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what investment is being considered to enhance the role of the community pharmacy network in the provision of frontline healthcare.

Answer:

In the year 2023/24, we invested additional funding (£2.494m) in respect of vaccination services; roll out of the Urinary Tract Infection service; pilot testing the StrepA test and treat service; and, pharmacy collect service for lateral flow devices.

The additional recurrent funding invested in 2023/24 has brought the recurrent funding to over £134m at the start of 2024/25. While I await the allocation of a budget for the 2024/25 year, my Department has recently committed to providing additional funding to this opening position in recognition of the service pressures that this sector is facing and within what is affordable.

This includes committing an additional £2m per quarter in 2024/25 in respect of ongoing service pressures. Whether this can be made recurrent will be dependent upon the delivery of efficiencies and the budget allocation.

A community pharmacy strategic plan will be published in the coming weeks and funding bids will be made to enable the delivery of these service areas.