A clue to what the new NHS plan means by "medicines management" (see p182) may be found in a recent letter from Lord Hunt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health) to Mr Allen Tweedie (chairman of the profession's medicines management steering group). In the letter, Lord Hunt indicates that it is proposals put froward by the PSNC that the Department of Health has in mind when using the term.
Mr Tweedie had asked for a response to his request that the Department should fund a trial of medicines management in coronary heart disease (PJ, June 24, p940). In his letter, which was dated July 5, Lord Hunt said: "I agree with you that the proper management of medication is an important element in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease. I also agree that there is an important role for pharmacists.
"As you will know, we are currently thinking hard about how pharmacy can and should contribute to our modernisation programme for the National Health Service. As part of that we are giving your proposals very serious consideration."
In a comment made to The Journal on the NHS plan, Mr Tweedie said: "The Secretary of State is to be congratulated for his comprehensive reform of the NHS. Pharmacy will have a major role to play in helping to re-engineer primary care where medicines are involved in patient therapy.
"The concept of medicines managament is now fully recognised in the new NHS plan and is based on the same challenges that were set out by the Prime Minsister, namely, patient care, partnership, performance, professions in collaboration and prevention of disease [PJ, April 1, p502].
"The sustained efforts of a dedicated leadership team are now bearing fruit and the profession will progressively move into the full process of pharmaceutical care. We need to enter into discussions with the Department as soon as possible and get on with the process of delivering the goods."