Delay in ‘hub and spoke’ legislation — Brabners’ Pharmacy law specialists join roundtable with sector leaders

Facing rising demand and costs, pharmacies are under significant pressure. Proposed ‘hub and spoke’ legislation could be a practical solution — but delays are causing significant challenges and frustration. 

Our own Richard Hough and Thorrun Govind were recently invited to share their legal expertise and experience at a roundtable discussion at the Houses of Parliament (hosted by Chemist and Druggist) on the delay in implementing hub and spoke legislation.

What is the hub and spoke model?

The discussion centred around the existing pressures on community pharmacies, the importance and benefits of hub and spoke legislation and the impact that this delay is having on pharmacists and patients.

The hub and spoke model would allow community pharmacies to send prescriptions to a central hub for dispensing. Under Model 1 of the proposed legislation, the ‘hub’ would fill prescriptions and send them back to community pharmacies for patients to collect. This would reduce costs, drive efficiency and provide capacity for the pharmacist to deliver more clinical services, such as Pharmacy First.

The hub and spoke system would have a positive ripple effect on patients, GPs and the wider NHS. However, despite these clear advantages, the legislation has been delayed indefinitely and the group were in agreement that pharmacies must speak to local MPs to demonstrate the urgent need for these changes. 

Chemist and Druggist outlined the following takeaways from the discussion:

• Pharmacy leaders envision a future where local pharmacies and pharmacists play a more significant role in delivering healthcare.
• Community pharmacies face an extremely challenging landscape with multiple pressures.
• Hub and spoke legislation provides community pharmacies with an important option.
• There is a sense of urgency to drive forward with hub and spoke legislation, which requires advocacy by community pharmacists.

Clarity needed

Both Richard and Thorrun highlighted critical barriers and opportunities for community pharmacies against a challenging operational and regulatory landscape, including the outdated nature of current legislation. 

Richard commented: “The restriction that prevents one legal entity from assembling medicines for another is totally outdated. The language used in the current legislation is vague and unsuited to modern pharmacy practice. The proposed change will bring greater clarity.”

He highlighted the urgency of proceeding with hub and spoke legislation, particularly Model 1, which would improve operational efficiency without mandating changes for community pharmacies.

Delivering more

Thorrun shared her perspective as both a practising pharmacist and solicitor, highlighting the pressures on community pharmacies, including rising patient expectations and the need for solutions that empower pharmacists to focus on clinical services. 

She said: “We want to practise as pharmacists. We want to be doing more services and most of us certainly didn’t go into the profession to be checking prescriptions and staring, quite literally, at a piece of paper.”

The Pharmacy First initiative in England currently only allows pharmacists to provide advice and treatment for seven conditions. While community pharmacists want to be able to provide even more clinical services, this is currently impossible due to the pressure that teams are already under to fulfil prescriptions. 

Richard added: “The consequence of pharmacists undertaking those services is that it takes pressure off GPs. Sadly, from pharmacy’s perspective, that’s still the headline grabber.”

Patient expectations 

The group also discussed the importance of maximising technology and streamlining processes to meet the growing demands of patients effectively. 

Thorrun explained: “Patient expectations are changing. They expect slicker services from pharmacy… they can get Uber delivery services and have visibility of where things are happening. They expect the same service from pharmacy.”

What is causing the delay?

The group discussed the hold up in legislation, with Richard noting that there’s no clear reason for it due to the evident need from the sector. 

He said: “I’m not sure what the blockage is… this is a fundamentally needed piece of legislation… given the incredibly challenging economic climate in which pharmacies are operating, there is a greater necessity now for this to be viewed as an urgent legislative change.”

Daniel Lee, founder and CEO, HubRx, added: “The statute has gone through primary legislation… We now need to press on immediately.” 

Talk to us 

Our experienced and specialist multidisciplinary pharmacy law team has a deep understanding and practical experience of the sector and can advise on all aspects of healthcare regulation as well as corporate, employment and property matters.

Talk to our team by giving us a call, sending us an email or completing our contact form below.