Health authorities given seed money for LPS pilots
Health authorities in England have been sent a minimum
of £2,000 each to help them get started on the development of local pharmaceutical
services (LPSs).
In a letter to health authorities on October 1,
the Department of Health’s deputy chief pharmaceutical officer, Jeanette
Howe, said: “Local pharmaceutical services will provide a new contractual
framework for the provision of community pharmacy services. Like personal
medical services, they will allow health authorities and pharmacies to
agree innovative, local, contracts free from the restrictions of the rigid
national remuneration system and terms of service.”
As with the introduction of personal medical services,
the first stage will be pilot schemes. Health authorities will be invited
to put forward proposals for schemes to the Department for approval. The
money they have been given is intended to contribute towards the cost
of involving local pharmacies and other interested people in discussions
about LPSs, and to encourage people to put forward ideas for pilot schemes.
The total amount allocated to HAs is £0.5m, with
each authority getting a minimum of £2,000, the remainder having been
allocated in proportion to the number of pharmacies they have.
The Department expects to issue detailed guidance
about the operation of pilot schemes, the bidding process and the criteria
for selection in the New Year. Health authorities have been advised not
to start discussing possible LPS schemes in any detail until the guidance
is available.
Each health authority has also been given at least
£5,000 to spend on the inclusion of community pharmacy in clinical governance
strategies. Again, health authorities have been told to wait for guidance,
which the Department expects to issue before the end of the year.
Back to Top
|
