The President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (Mrs Christine Glover) has written to the Prime Minister (Mr Tony Blair) in response to his announcement last week (PJ, March 25, p457) that the Government would consult the professions over modernising the National Health Service.
Mrs Glover is quoted in a press release issued on March 28 as saying that her letter outlined the extensive skill and expertise of pharmacists and pointed out that the profession had long been an innovator within the NHS. She added that the Society had offered its support for the modernisation programme and would be submitting a briefing paper outlining ideas.
"The NHS is at a crossroads in service delivery and patient care," Mrs Glover said. "Decisions made now will affect the future of patients, professionals working in the NHS and Government spending. It is crucial that we seize this opportunity to secure a co-operative role for pharmacists at the heart of health care."
The Society declined to release the text of the letter for publication, saying that it was private correspondence.