Upcoming changes to the way community pharmacy is represented nationally and locally

The proposal put to contractors included a recommendation that LPCs align more closely with local NHS landscapes.

In response, over recent months, Community Pharmacy County Durham (CPCD) and Tees Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC), shortly to become Community Pharmacy Tees Valley, have been giving consideration to their geographical boundaries and the footprints they cover. At recent Special General Meetings in both areas, pharmacies were asked to vote on Darlington pharmacies moving from CPCD to Tees LPC. The rationale is that Darlington is included as part of the Tees Valley together with Middlesborough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Stockton, areas currently covered by Tees LPC.

Pharmacies voted by a large majority to approve the proposal. The aim is for the transition to take place on 1 April and work is ongoing to make this happen. There is though flexibility in the process for the changes to come into effect at a later date if required.

Community Pharmacy County Durham (CPCD) has been honoured to represent Darlington pharmacies over a very long period of time. Pharmacies in the town have always provided a superb service to their patients and wider communities. The past few years have been really difficult and have seen the workload of pharmacy teams increase even more. In spite of that, when other health professionals have struggled to maintain their service, the pharmacy service has been a constant. CPCD is extremely grateful to all Darlington pharmacies for the massive amount of work they have done before and during the pandemic and will continue to provide beyond Covid.

CPCD hope that the work CPCD has done on behalf of Darlington contractors has been helpful; CPCD has no doubt that Tees LPC will continue in the same vein.