- 02/05/2017
- Posted by: Lesley Griffiths MS
- Category: News
Pharmacies across Wrexham and Wales will be able to improve and expand the services they provide as the Welsh Labour Government announces a £144m investment in the sector.
The funding will improve access to services provided by community pharmacies, such as the common ailment service and flu vaccinations. It will also support the implementation of a pharmacy quality programme and support collaborative working between pharmacies and other primary care providers.
Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed the move, believing the community pharmacy industry is fundamental in helping alleviate pressures on GPs. She said:
“At a time when thousands of community pharmacies in England face closure as a result of funding cuts of over 7%, I am pleased there are no proposals to reduce investment in community pharmacies in Wales.”
“Pharmacists have the expertise and knowledge to offer advice to people with minor ailments. They are readily accessible and offer a wide range of NHS services. This substantial Welsh Government investment will help reduce the number of people who need to be referred to GP out-of-hours services and A&E departments, as well as delivering considerable improvements in patient safety.”
“I have visited pharmacies and GP surgeries across the constituency and it is clear that working collectively will ultimately achieve the best outcomes for the people of Wrexham and Wales.”
In addition to the funding, the Welsh Government announced it will provide funding to make the Choose Pharmacy IT application available to all pharmacies in Wales until 2020.
