Pharmaceutical Support Services, a group of independent community pharmacists
from Coventry, has won a second contract to provide drug information and prescribing
support to two of the three primary care groups in the city.
In a statement issued on September 26, Mr David Maxted (PSS co-ordinator, Coventry
West PCG) said that the new arrangement would allow a more formal relationship
to develop between community pharmacists and general medical practitioners,
although they had always worked well together on an informal basis. Pharmacists
would be advising GPs about the results of new clinical trials and how medicines
could be prescribed cost-effectively. PSS had already been involved in developing
treatment guidelines, holding clinics, producing patient information leaflets
and carrying out audits for the PCG.
Mr Mark Galloway (PPS co-ordinator, Coventry East PCG) said that the group was
delighted to have beaten larger community pharmacy chains to win the contract.
They wanted to expand on the developments at Coventry West with the new contract
with Coventry East.