To ask the Minister of Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure community pharmacies can continue to support elderly and vulnerable patients.

I am happy to inform the member that earlier this week the Department of Health published a new Strategic Plan for Community Pharmacy which aims to fully realise the potential of community pharmacy services to support better health outcomes from medicines and prevent illness. Implementation of the strategy will not only support elderly and vulnerable patients but the whole population.

This important piece of work was developed collaboratively by the Department of Health and Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI), the representative body for community pharmacy owners, and describes the vision and strategic priorities for community pharmacy up to 2030.

Against the backdrop of the current severe budgetary pressures and the multiple demands for additional funding across all parts of health and social care, additional investment continues to be provided to the community pharmacy sector. The level of government funding for community pharmacies in NI compares favourably to other parts of the UK. However, more will be required to fully deliver this Strategic Plan up to 2030. I am very conscious that the Community Pharmacy sector – like all sectors across health and social care – is keen to see further investment.

The Strategic Plan for Community Pharmacy is available on the Department of Health website: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/community-pharmacy-strategic-plan-2030