From Mrs P. E. Summers, MRPharmS
SIR,—The Drug Tariff is legally the only National Health Service reference source that community pharmacists have from the Department of Health but there is a discrepancy throughout the country in relation to the date on which pharmacists receive their copies. In Buckinghamshire, the health authority posted theirs on August 27, and pharmacies received their copy on August 31. A pharmacy in Essex received one on September 4. In Devon, the Tariff arrived at Exeter health authority on September 1, and of the pharmacists I have contacted not one has received their copy as I write (September 6). This is clearly an unacceptable situation.
A courier is contracted to deliver it to the relevant health authority three working days before the end of the month, allowing time for pharmacists to receive their copy by post on or before the first of the next month. No changes can be made after the copy leaves the Prescription Pricing Authority in Newcastle at about the 16th of the month to go to the printer. There seems to be a good case to allow the information to be disseminated at that time in addition to the hard copy.
Tricia Summers
Tiverton, Devon