Mr Graham Phillips, a pharmacist from St Albans and a member of the National Pharmaceutical Association's board, was able to put a question to the Prime Minister (Mr Tony Blair) at a meeting held in the city on November 15 for local business people, health care professionals and Labour party supporters, following an invitation from his local Member of Parliament, Mr Kerry Pollard, who chaired the meeting.
Mr Phillips congratulated the Prime Minister on the changes being made to the National Health Service and the launch of the national pharmacy plan. He asked what could be done to ensure that the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry worked together to provide the support and resources needed by independent community pharmacies to provide a modern and patient based service.
In his reply, the Prime Minister said that the Departments were already working together on this problem. Mr Blair added: "Pharmacists have the potential to deliver much more. All that I ask is that you work with us to deliver the NHS planned strategy. I recognise this is a problem and I will ensure that we take it away and work on it."
Mr Phillips told The Journal that he had met his MP informally on a number of occasions and he had discussed his concerns about issues such as the remuneration of community pharmacies, resale price maintenance and the pharmacy plan with him. He added that the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and to raise the profile of pharmacy was proof of the value of developing a good working relationship with MPs.
The photograph shows (left to right) Mr John D'Arcy (director, NPA), Mr Pollard and Mr Phillips at the NPA's headquarters