Incentivising the right decisions
Senior Researcher
Governments of all stripes are criticised for prioritising the urgent over the important and pursuing short-term, ‘sticking plaster’ solutions over long-term, transformational change.
At the same time, there are few incentives for decision-makers to dedicate resources towards the difficult, risky work of achieving long-term change, which can materialise well beyond the end of a Parliament, versus addressing the kinds of immediate concerns which make their way into the press, social media and MP correspondence.
Achieving a cultural shift towards a more long-term politics, yes, means a change in how parts of Westminster and Whitehall operate, but also properly recognising when a decision has been taken which breaks the mould — and rewarding it.
Today’s announcement that a record amount will be invested in community pharmacy is one such decision. It’s a sector that will be vital to the Government’s aspiration to shift care from hospitals to the community, but that for some time now has faced significant real-terms funding cuts, with almost two-thirds of pharmacies reporting last year that they were operating at a loss and around a sixth of pharmacies at risk of closure.
The deal, worth an extra £618 million over two years, is the biggest uplift awarded to any part of the NHS. As well as helping stabilise the sector, it will mean that more services — including services focused on prevention, such as blood pressure checks — can be provided in pharmacies, which are disproportionately located in parts of the country with some of the greatest health needs.
Re:State has consistently argued for greater prioritisation of pharmacy as a necessary precursor to a health system focused on communities, including to deliver a greater range of vaccinations, provide more direct patient care and support the implementation of a Neighbourhood Health Service.
This is an important step in the right direction, and for anyone interested in a longer-term and more prevention-focused approach to public services, should be applauded.