In Analysis

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

Numark chairman Harry McQuillan has urged individuals who emerged victorious in the local elections in England and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales “to work in partnership with community pharmacy” and recognise “it as an essential part of the local health infrastructure”.

McQuillan (pictured) told Independent Community Pharmacist Numark will “engage constructively with all newly elected governments and administrations” after Reform won control of at least seven councils in England and Labour lost over 1,100 council seats while the Green Party won hundreds of seats.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru secured 43 seats in the Senedd to end over 100 years of Labour control and the Scottish National Party won a fifth term in office but failed to secure an overall majority in Holyrood.

McQuillan said he was looking forward to “new ideas and perspectives” about community pharmacy from those who won election.

“Whatever the political complexion of the new administrations, the direction of travel for healthcare, and for community pharmacy in particular, remains clear,” he said.

“Across all four nations, the strategic imperative is the same: care must become more local, more preventative, and more integrated. Community pharmacy is not on the periphery of that ambition; it sits at its very heart.”

McQuillan said although a four per cent uplift in pharmacy’s global sum for 2025‑26 and “guaranteed minimum income measures” in Scotland was progress, the Government should “build on that foundation and continue to invest in pharmacy as a first point of contact for patients across the country”.

He said increased investment in the 2025-26 community pharmacy contractual framework in Wales, its “maturing” primary care “cluster-based model” and focus on clinical service expansion was a step in “the right direction” but urged Plaid Cymru “to champion that vision and ensure resources match the ambition”.

McQuillan also said the council elections in England “are a reminder that the wider determinants of health, housing, social care, public health, are shaped locally”.

“The ambitions of NHS England's Long Term Plan continue to reshape delivery towards prevention and neighbourhood care,” he said. “Numark will engage constructively with all newly elected governments and administrations.

“Our members deliver millions of patient interactions every week. They are skilled, accessible, and ready to do more, if given the right support, the right funding and the right recognition.”