Liberal Democrats announced at their September 2026 autumn conference in Brighton a pledge to “supercharge” Pharmacy First, an NHS scheme.
Policy details unveiled
The motion, titled “Patient-centred, accessible and preventive: a liberal vision for primary health care,” calls for proper funding to sustain an expanded Pharmacy First service and to ensure that the programme can grow without compromising quality.
It proposes integrating community pharmacies into the NHS App, allowing users to book services directly, similar to GP appointments.
The party also promises to make pharmacies “fairer for rural and coastal communities,” addressing geographic disparities in access.
According to the motion, pharmacies have closed at record rates while the share of NHS spending on primary care has fallen even as demand has risen, creating pressure on existing providers.
Amandeep Doll, director for England at the Royal College of Pharmacy, said investment in the pharmacy workforce and infrastructure will be essential to keep pace with growing demand.
Doll added that pharmacists want to focus on health care, not collecting prescription charges, and urged the government to review the exemption system to support adherence and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association’s (CCA), welcomed the recognition of financial pressures and emphasized the need for a sustainable financial footing if pharmacies are to take on an expanded NHS role.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, said the party’s vision aligns with the cross-party engagement CPE has pursued, noting that evidence provided by CPE helped shape the motion’s themes.
The motion also references a March 2026 project by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to improve patient information through electronic leaflets, an effort mirrored by the Company Chemists’ Association’s (CCA) Medicines Supply Resilience Group.
Conference delegates approved the motion on 22 September, signalling party support for the outlined reforms and setting a benchmark for future policy discussions.