Engaging with MPs
Engaging with MPs
At a national level, PSNC carries out a range of activities to help brief MPs and peers on current issues within community pharmacy. We also work with the other national pharmacy organisations to coordinate our messaging wherever possible.
This page is updated regularly with the latest publications and resources for LPCs and contractors to use for any local MP engagement.
PSNC can also offer support to LPCs and community pharmacy teams who receive queries from MPs or have any questions about this work. Anyone requiring further advice is encouraged to contact the PSNC Communications and Public Affairs Team via: commsteam@psnc.org.uk
APPG
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The All-Party Pharmacy Group receives financial support from: The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, the Company Chemists Association, the National Pharmacy Association, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Secretariat functions are provided by Tendo Consulting.
Visit the APPG’s website to see more details about upcoming events and other group publications and if you have any queries, you can contact the secretariat for the group, via: contact@pharmacyappg.co.uk.
Resources for LPCs and contractors
LPCs and community pharmacy contractors have been engaging with local MPs for many years now. As critical decision makers, it is important that we continue to showcase strong engagement and support from MPs from all parties. Below is a range of resources to help LPCs and contractors undertake local political activity.
Guidance for engaging with MPs
We have published guidance to help with pharmacy visits or meetings with MPs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of local MP engagement has been conducted via email and MP visits are reduced depending on national lockdown restrictions. However, the range of guidance documents we have provided below should help LPCs whether they are facilitating a socially-distanced pharmacy visit or hosting a virtual meeting with an MP via Zoom.
Guidance for hosting pharmacy visits with MPs (Autumn 2021)
Guidance for engaging with MPs about the new Pharmacy Collect service (May 2021)
Template letters to MPs
We periodically issue template letters for LPCs to use to contact their MPs to help with various campaigns. If you want to write out to your MPs with specific asks – eg a request to meet or invitation to visit a pharmacy – you can tailor the templates below to help your work. LPCs who have existing relationships with MPs may not need to use these.
Template letter to MPs – Autumn 2021 (Invitation for flu jab)
MPs by LPC area
If you are unsure about which MPs you need to contact, you can refer to the following table which maps MPs in England by LPC area.
Alternatively, you can use Parliament’s Find Your MP tool to search for MPs by postcode if you are unsure about constituency boundaries.
Briefings for MPs
PSNC issues policy briefings on various topics to help LPCs with their MP engagement. These can be used to inform your meetings with MPs, or can be sent to those who request further information on specific issues. Below are our most recently published briefings:
Briefing for MPs – Winter Pressures Briefing (January 2022)
Briefing for MPs – Autumn update on current funding & services (September 2021)
Briefing for MPs – New COVID-19 testing kits available from community pharmacies (May 2021)
Briefing for MPs – Urgent support required for community pharmacies (March 2021)
Briefing for MPs – Financial pressures facing community pharmacies (December 2020)
Briefing for MPs – Flu Season (September 2020)
Briefing for MPs – Community Pharmacy and COVID-19 (joint briefing) (April 2020)
Press releases
Following a pharmacy visit, MPs may offer to collaborate on a local press release. Those who are briefed virtually may also offer to publish a supportive statement or release for their websites or local media. A template for either of these is available below which LPCs can edit accordingly.
Press release for MPs- Flu Season (Autumn 2021)
Press Release for LPCs – Flu Season (Autumn 2021)
LPC template letter invitation to MPs (flu jab) (Autumn 2021)
Press Release for MPs – Promoting the Pharmacy Collect service (May 2021)
Other briefings and infographics
CPCF summary for external stakeholders
A summary of the five-year Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) created to explain it for external audiences. These may be particularly useful for LPCs engaging with local healthcare organisations or other stakeholders.
Briefing for MPs: Community Pharmacy and the NHS Long Term Plan
This briefing outlines where the NHS Long Term Plan mentioned community pharmacy. LPCs can use this during MP visits to discuss the Plan’s pledges for the sector.
Community Pharmacy: The Long Term Future of the NHS
This briefing outlines where community pharmacy can contribute to the long-term future of the NHS. It was created in collaboration with the other national pharmacy organisations ahead of the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Value of pharmacy infographic and references
This one-page infographic has been developed to summarise some of the findings of a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report on the value of community pharmacy. The references document provides more detail for those who are interested in the research behind the statistics.
Community Pharmacy Value flyer
This flyer highlights the value of community pharmacy.
Community Pharmacy Forward View: A vision for future pharmacy care
The Community Pharmacy Forward View (CPFV) sets out a joint vision for the future of community pharmacy services. This infographic summarises some of the key points from the vision, or you can read more here.
