VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Pharmacy: Finance

Asked by Sarah OlneyLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 27 January 2025UIN 24195

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the funding allocated for Pharmacy First has been spent as of 15 January 2025.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

Funding for Pharmacy First is drawn from the additional pharmacy funding announced in January 2024, to cover activity delivered across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.

The plan announced additional spend on blood pressure checks, contraception, and the introduction of seven clinical pathways for the supply of prescription only medicines where clinically appropriate.

NHS England and the Department are carefully monitoring the spend on all three elements that make up the full Pharmacy First service, which include minor illness referrals, urgent medicine supply, and the seven new clinical pathways.

Contractors can submit claims up to three months after delivering the activity. The Department therefore cannot provide the data requested.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim