Expert Panel: evaluation of the Government’s commitments in the area of pharmacy in England (Tenth Special Report of Session 2022–23)

Governments often make well-publicised policy commitments with good intentions to improve services for the public. While such policy commitments can be made frequently, it is often difficult to evaluate or monitor the extent to which these commitments have been, or are on track to be, met. For this reason, formal processes of evaluation and review are essential, not only to hold the Government to account, but to allow those responsible for policy implementation to critically appraise their own progress; identify areas for future focus; and to foster a culture of learning and improvement. Such a process can also promote improvements in the quality of the commitments made.

Improvement and review are iterative processes during which the impact and success of innovations are identified, modified, and reviewed and this discipline is already in good use within the NHS. The concept has also been used successfully including in health and social care, by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). To apply this approach to health policy, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee established a panel of experts to support its constitutional role in scrutinising the work of the Government. The Panel is chaired by Professor Dame Jane Dacre DBE and is responsible for conducting politically impartial evaluations of Government commitments in different areas of healthcare policy. The Panel’s evaluations are independent from the work of the Committee.

The Expert Panel produces a report after each evaluation which is sent to the Committee to review. The Panel’s report is independent. The final report includes a rating of the progress the Government have made against achieving their own commitments. This is based on the “Anchor Statements” (see Annex A) set out by the Committee. The intention is to identify instances of successful implementation of Government pledges in health and social care as well as areas where improvement is necessary, and to provide explanation and further context.

The overall aim is to use this evidence-based scrutiny to feed back to those making promises so that they can assess whether their commitments are on track to be met and to ensure support for resourcing and implementation was, or will be, provided to match the Government’s aspirations. It is hoped that this process will promote learning about what makes an effective commitment, identify how commitments are most usefully monitored, and ultimately improve health and care.

Where appropriate, the Panel will revisit and review policy commitments to encourage sustained progress. The Expert Panel’s remit is to assess progress against the Government’s key commitments for the health and care system rather than to make policy recommendations. This is the sixth report of the Expert Panel and evaluates the Government commitments made in the area of pharmacy services in England.