Pharmacy: West Dorset
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve pharmacy provision in West Dorset.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
We recognise that community pharmacy continues to face significant challenges after almost a decade of underfunding and the Government is committed to working jointly with the sector on a programme of reform, to ensure we have a sustainable pharmacy network enabling patients to access the care they need.
That is why the Government has increased funding for the community pharmacy sector by £340 million in 2026/27, a 10% increase, recognising the essential role pharmacies play in supporting patients and the wider National Health Service. This builds on the 19% uplift to the community pharmacy budget across 2024/25 and 2025/26 to provide more support and stability for all pharmacies in England, including those serving patients in West Dorset.
Additionally, local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors to ensure adequate provision is in place.
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