The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7185 p197-203
16 February 2002

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Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (www.psnc.org.uk)

Pharmacy must model its own new NHS contract

Community pharmacists need to take the lead in designing the new contract they want, Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has suggested.

Mrs Sharpe told a meeting of the North West region local pharmaceutical committees on February 7: "Community pharmacy needs to build the model for the future service. It must show that pharmacy can change, what it can achieve, and how it can get there. But it must also build a compelling case for Government to incentivise and support the changes they want. It cannot wait for others to act, but it can, and must, get the Government to invest."

Delivering much a similar message to the one she gave recently at the launch of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (PJ, 2 February, p144), Mrs Sharpe said that the PSNC will lead the change, working for all contractors' interests at national level, and by providing support and resource for local contractors."

She added: "The threats to pharmacy contractors at present are unprecedented. At the same time as prescription volumes rise well above pay increases and the global sum's fundamental flaws become glaringly apparent, the Office of Fair Trading challenges control of entry, and the Government wants to change reimbursement of generics, they ask for developments in community pharmacy services that require investment and commitment to the future."

"Morale and confidence have been depressed by the Government's treatment of contractors."