To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) his plans for using community pharmacists to continue to alleviate pressure on the Health Service; and (ii) the support and assistance pharmacists will need to fulfill this role.

Community pharmacies have been playing a pivotal role in delivering health services to communities in Northern Ireland during the pandemic and it is clear that there is a very high level of public confidence in the professionalism and dedication shown by community pharmacies during what has been an extremely challenging year. I am therefore very pleased that agreement has now been reached on a community pharmacy commissioning plan for 2021-22.

The commissioning plan for 2021-22 builds on the agreement reached on last years’ commissioning arrangements and provides a coherent structure for the provision of community pharmacy services over the next 12 months. The plan continues to focus on the need to develop and support community pharmacy in their delivery of services and provides a commitment to scope, test and pilot services to inform future commissioning arrangements.