Nearly six in ten community pharmacies in England and Wales have no plans to offer expanded independent prescribing (IP) services under the new NHS contract, according to a survey by the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA).
The poll of the IPA's 3,500 members found that 57.5% do not intend to deliver the new services, with 29.9% undecided and just 12.6% confirming they plan to proceed.
The IPA said the findings reflect widespread concern about the financial and practical viability of the services. Respondents cited the cost of recruiting or training independent prescribers, uncertainty about how services will operate, and insufficient funding as their main reasons.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said pharmacies broadly support the direction of travel on IP, but warned that many owners cannot absorb the costs involved without greater financial backing. She said the results reflect growing frustration among pharmacy owners who feel they are being asked to take on additional clinical responsibility while continuing to face years of underfunding and rising operating costs.