Community Pharmacy Devon

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Community Pharmacy Devon will be holding the AGM on Monday 19th October 7.15 pm virtually on Teams. Alongside the AGM there will be a special meeting to ask pharmacy owners to vote on the new model constitution in line with changes proposed and agreed by Community Pharmacy England.

You can view the Annual report on our website here: https://devon.communitypharmacy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/Annual-Report-2025-26.pdf and details of the AGM including log in details and proposed constitution here: https://devon.communitypharmacy.org.uk/our-news/community-pharmacy-devon-agm-and-special-meeting-on-the-model-constitution/

Community Pharmacy Devon AGM and Special Meeting on the model constitution. – Devon We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies.

Local MP, Steve Darling, recently visited Dowricks Pharmacy in Chelston, Torbay, to hear first-hand about the increasing pressures facing community pharmacies.
Hosted by Lisa Dowrick, a second-generation pharmacist, the visit provided an opportunity to discuss the vital role community pharmacies play in supporting local residents. Lisa highlighted the wide range of services now delivered through community pharmacy and outlined concerns around increasing workload, funding challenges, and a lack of integration across parts of the healthcare system. She also shared findings from the recent Community Pharmacy England pressures survey and raised concerns about the sustainability of community pharmacies without additional support and investment.

In response, Steve Darling acknowledged the important contribution community pharmacies make to local healthcare and committed to exploring what further support may be available. He stated that he would seek to better understand how the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) is supporting the shift of healthcare services into community settings and work to help ensure Torbay does not experience further pharmacy closures.

Community pharmacies continue to play a vital role in providing accessible healthcare services, advice, and support to patients across Torbay and beyond.

The first national pathway and decision-making tool for the care of patients presenting with headache symptoms is now available online, supporting GP teams and pharmacy colleagues to offer good headache management and care.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has worked with a large multidisciplinary group to develop the interactive standardised pathway, which is co-badged by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Pharmacy.

The simple format guides GPs, pharmacists and pharmacy counter staff through assessment, management and treatment options (where appropriate), based on national standards and best evidence. The GIRFT national online headache pathway can be accessed via the GIRFT website:
https://girft-interactivepathways.org.uk/headache/

Headache – GIRFT – Pathways

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Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot, recently visited both Buckland Pharmacy and Day Lewis Pharmacy in Devon Square where he met with local pharmacy teams to gain a better understanding of the current challenges facing community pharmacy.

During the visit, Martin was keen to learn more about how community pharmacies operate and the increasing pressures they face. At Buckland Pharmacy the team explained the impact of ongoing medicine shortages and pricing concessions, highlighting that pharmacies are legally required to dispense exactly what is prescribed, even when certain medicines are difficult to obtain.

The discussion also covered the range of clinical services offered by community pharmacies, many of which rely on referrals from other healthcare organisations. The significant challenges facing the sector across Devon were highlighted, including the fact that the county has experienced one of the highest levels of established pharmacy contractor closures in recent years, with the effects being felt across local communities.

At Day Lewis Pharmacy, the team shared similar concerns around financial pressures, changing prescribing practices, and the underutilisation of pharmacy services. Despite these challenges, staff spoke passionately about their commitment to supporting patients and providing accessible healthcare within the community.

One example that particularly resonated with Martin was a recent incident where a patient suffered a seizure in the pharmacy. To ensure the patient's privacy and allow the team to provide appropriate support, the pharmacy temporarily closed. The experience highlighted the vital role community pharmacies play, not only in supplying medicines but also as an essential part of the local healthcare network.

The visit provided an important opportunity to showcase the value of community pharmacy, while also highlighting the urgent need to address the challenges facing the sector to ensure patients continue to have access to local pharmacy services in the future.

The Pharmacy Pressures Survey 2026 confirmed what the sector already knows: daily medicines shortages and rising operating and financial pressures are affecting pharmacy teams, businesses and those who rely on them. These important findings further strengthen the call for sustainable investment and a long-term plan to protect pharmacies.

Read the results of the survey here: https://cpe.org.uk/our-news/pressures-survey-underlines-financial-crisis-in-pharmacy/

Pressures Survey underlines financial crisis in pharmacy Community pharmacies across England are still facing severe financial losses, with patients increasingly feeling the impact through delays to medicines and reduced access to care, this year’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey has shown. The owners of more than 2,900 pharmacies, along with 900 pharmacy tea...

Did you know....antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat infections.

This is because:

✨Many infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective
✨Antibiotics are often unlikely to speed up the healing process and can cause side effects
✨The more antibiotics are used to treat trivial conditions, the more likely they are to become ineffective for treating more serious conditions

Both the NHS and health organisations across the world are trying to reduce the use of antibiotics, especially for health problems that are not serious.

For example, antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat:

✨Chest infections
✨Ear infections in children
✨Sore throats

Stress Management and Building Resilience Workshop now available to view online.

The stress management and building resilience workshop facilitated by Pharmacist Support, provides a deeper dive into wellbeing and looks at how to build resilience. It provides techniques for dealing with feelings of pressure including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and encourages participants to identify and build on strengths. It explains the advantages of positive thinking and self-reflection, in addition to providing tips to enhance resilience and wellbeing. You can view it here -

Wellbeing and support Protecting the health, wellbeing and safety of pharmacy team members is a high priority for pharmacy owners, the NHS and Community Pharmacy England. The continuing fragility across England of pharmacy finances, alongside high workloads, stress, ongoing uncertainty and rising reports of abuse from pa