Commenting on the King's Speech, NPA chief executive Paul Rees emphasises the need to invest in community pharmacy to cut GP and hospital waiting times
In his address to both Houses of Parliament today (17 July), King Charles III highlighted the new government's commitment to enhancing the National Health Service (NHS), reducing waiting times, focussing on preventive care, and improving mental health services.
Marking the first State Opening of Parliament under the Labour government, the King unveiled a raft of bills and draft bills, including the Mental Health Bill and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
King Charles III said: “My government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability to pay.
“It will seek to reduce the waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people.”
Furthermore, the King stated that mental health would be given the same attention and focus as physical health. He announced the introduction of the Mental Health Bill, which aims to modernise the Mental Health Act to better meet contemporary needs.
“My ministers will legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act so it is fit for the twenty first century [Mental Health Bill],” he stated.
The new government plans to introduce several public health measures to improve the wellbeing of young people.
The King said that a Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be introduced to “progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes.”
Additionally, the government plans to introduce new legislation to restrict the advertising of junk food to children and limit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to minors.
Increased funding for pharmacies key to reducing waiting times
Paul Rees, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), welcomed the government's focus on reducing waiting times and enhancing preventative health care, and emphasized the importance of reinvesting in community pharmacies to achieve these goals.
Commenting on the King's Speech, Paul said: "It’s good to see the government wanting to increase their focus on cutting waiting times as well as providing a greater role for preventative health care, something community pharmacies play a vital role in.”
He highlighted that community pharmacies are closing at a record rate, affecting the communities.
"Every day 1.6 million people visit a pharmacy but they are closing at a record rate, and people are seeing the effect of that in their communities.
“If this government wants to cut GP and hospital waiting times – and free up GPs to see patients with more serious conditions – it needs to invest in community pharmacy, which is a front door to the NHS and ideally placed to help release GP appointments and relieve pressure on hospitals.
"There is no need for complex legislation to begin the reinvestment in community pharmacies to unleash their full potential.”
Paul also praised the government's recommitment to tackling challenges around disposable vapes and raising the smoking age.
"For decades, community pharmacies across the UK have been instrumental in the fight against smoking. However, it's only by reversing historic cuts to cessation services that we'll effectively slash rates of smoking and transform health outcomes across the country."
A recent analysis by the NPA revealed that 177 pharmacies were permanently closed between January and April 2024, the equivalent of 10 local pharmacies shutting down every week.
