Pharmacy hub and spoke providers call on MPs to fast-track proposed legislation

They agree that Model One of hub and spoke legislation should be implemented by summer 2025 at the latest

Pharmacy hub and spoke providers gathered at Westminster on Tuesday (November 19) to highlight to MPs the urgent need to implement Model One of Hub and Spoke legislation.

This proposed model, aimed at making hub and spoke dispensing accessible to all pharmacies, was initially scheduled for rollout in January 2025, but has been delayed.

Representatives from Centred Solutions, HubRx, and PillTime engaged with over 30 MPs at the event, which was organised with the support of former pharmacist and Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan.

They highlighted the significant benefits of hub and spoke for community pharmacies and stressed the need to extend its use across different legal entities.

Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset and officer for the Pharmacy APPG, expressed his support, saying, “Community pharmacies are a vital lifeline for our high streets and independents have always been at a disadvantage versus larger chains who can employ economies of scale.

“Model One of the proposed legislation would allow the benefits of big pharmacies for smaller ones to help them focus on the service provision our NHS needs during this difficult financial time.”

Currently, hub and spoke dispensing is limited to pharmacies operating in the same legal entity.

This proposed Model One would allow for dispensing across different legal entities, with medicines returned from the hub ready to be dispensed in store to the patient.

This change aims to level the playing field for smaller and independent pharmacies, allowing them to use a hub and spoke model of their choice to create capacity for clinical services.

The event saw strong interest and support from MPs, many of whom signed a letter addressed to pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock, urging to accelerate the delayed hub and spoke legislation.

Benefits of Model One

Todd Siegel, CEO of Centred Solutions, highlighted their customer data showing that adopting hub and spoke could remove an average of 80% of original pack repeat dispensing volumes from pharmacy stores.

“This frees up over four hours of pharmacist’s time per day to deliver patient facing services. Of the 10,000 pharmacies remaining open in England, that’s 1.8 million additional appointments every year on current staffing levels,” he said.

He also noted that many pharmacies are eager to move to this dispensing model to ensure their readiness for the future, but are unable to do so due to the delayed legislation.

“If Model One isn’t put in place soon there is a real risk that many more pharmacies will have to close their doors as the current way of working is simply not sustainable,” he added.

Daniel Lee, CEO of HubRx, emphasised that Model One will provide much-needed structural changes in community pharmacy, allowing pharmacies to offer more clinical services including Pharmacy First.

“This should be an easy decision to make for policy makers. It has cross-pharmacy support, no funding is needed, and the market is ready,” he suggested.

Lee also highlighted the model's potential to create capacity in pharmacy, reduce pressure on primary care, and provide a more motivated workforce.

“I have spoken with hundreds of pharmacists who are overwhelmed with the daily workload and pressure they face each day, struggling to cope as things are, never mind being able to offer more clinical services.

“Hub and spoke has transformed our own pharmacies, allowing us to increase our clinical services. Other independent pharmacies need this option now,” he added.

Leighton Humphries, CEO of PillTime, referenced a recent survey that revealed the key benefits of hub and spoke, including the potential to ease the pressure around compliance aids, reduce workload, increase efficiency, and lower costs.

He stressed that the ongoing delay in legislation is putting patients, particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, at risk.

Humphries also noted that the delay is widening the gap between larger groups and smaller independent pharmacies who need the same access to hub and spoke to survive.

All three companies agree that Model One of hub and spoke legislation should be in place by summer 2025 at the latest.

They stated that if needed, additional time could be taken to review the second model, where the hub sends the medication directly to the patient.