Changes to the GP Contract in England mean that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) can no longer redistribute unspent ARRS budgets amongst PCNs. Any unspent allocation to each PCN must now be returned to the Treasury. In practice, this will mean that some existing pharmacist roles will no longer be funded by the ARRS.
PCNs are groups of GP practices in a geography, and unless the PCNs find alternative funding elsewhere, they may decide to remove those roles. The PDA believes that pharmacist roles within PCNs and across the primary care system add great value to patients and communities and that allowing such a scenario to occur would be a retrograde step by NHS England.
As the largest pharmacists’ membership organisation in the UK, the PDA will continue to lobby decision makers to make the best use of the profession across all parts of the health system. That includes primary care, such as the important activity undertaken by the 1,200+ PCNs that operate across England.
However, as with employment anywhere, job losses are always just a management decision away and these changes to ARRS arrangements may mean some pharmacists might lose their current roles. The Chief Executive of one Local Medical Committee (LMC) in the North of England was quoted this week as saying that, “PCNs [are] being left in the position of having to either make staff redundant or overspend from core practice contracts because of a lack of clarity over funding streams is unfair both to practices and patients.”
Paul Day, PDA Director of Membership & Communities said, “The PDA protects, defends, and lobbies in the interests of pharmacists and has extensive experience of supporting pharmacists facing potential redundancy and will support members to understand and exercise their rights in such situations. This example of a risk to employment emphasises why every pharmacist should be a trade union member.”
PDA members whose roles end following changes to the ARRS can access the PDA’s guide on redundancy by clicking here. PDA members who are concerned about their individual situation are encouraged to speak to their local PDA Union Rep or contact the PDA Member Support Centre.
Learn more
- Redundancy – a guide for PDA members
- PDA Member Support Centre
- Pharmacists working in general practice settings and how the PDA can help them
- PDA redundancy guide launched following events to support members
- Lloyds/Sainsbury’s enhanced redundancy claims update – April 2024
- PDA raise concerns over Redundancy Selection Process at Boots
- PDA responds to the BEIS consultation on extending redundancy protection for women and new parents
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