The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has sent out guidance for local pharmaceutical committees covering what they should do if an application to form a primary care trust is made in their area.
The PSNC guidance says that under the Health Act 1999 LPCs must be consulted, sent a copy of the application and invited to make comments if any primary care group in their area is seeking PCT status. The guidance notes that "LPCs should realise that in the consultation process they are in a position of strength" because of the legal requirement to consult them and the applicants' need for support. It suggests that LPCs should use this opportunity to press for the inclusion of a community pharmacist on the executive of the PCT and underline the benefits of the current network of pharmacies for providing services to the locality.
The PSNC notes that it is the executive of the PCT which will be responsible for its day-to-day management. The executive will thus be "very influential" and LPCs should seek to make contact with and to obtain representation on the PCT executive, rather than the PCT board of management, where possible.
The Health Act allows PCTs to commission and provide services, to employ staff and to own property. This could theoretically include providing pharmaceutical services, although the PSNC is pressing for the prohibition on this applied to National Health Service trusts to be extended to PCTs.