The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7193 p487-492
13 April 2002

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No place for pharmacy on PCTs

Although community pharmacists, like other health services contractors, are eligible for appointment to the executive committees or boards of primary care trusts in England, the Department of Health says it will not be a requirement for any to be appointed. However, PCT boards will now have to include a director of public health.

Nigel Crisp, chief executive of the National Health Service, says in a letter to PCT chairmen issued last month that PCTs will now have the maximum flexibility in determining their own governance arrangements and there will no longer be a national model of governance. However, PCT boards remain limited to a maximum of 14 members plus a chairman, with a lay majority. This will include a representative of each trust's patients' forum.

The professional-led executive committees will be increased to 18 members. PCTs will be expected to establish a senior nursing leadership post, equivalent to nurse director. "It is anticipated that this responsibility will be discharged in a facilitative manner, devolving power, engaging front-line staff and working across professional and organisational boundaries," an annexe to Mr Crisp's letter says.

The letter (PDF* 40K) adds that if a PCT becomes a provider of, for example, dental services then it will be expected that appropriate professional will be a member of the executive committee.

Mike King, head of professional development at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said that around one-third of PCTs have a pharmacist as a full member of the executive committee or the board.

"Our feedback from these pharmacists is that they are making a valuable contribution across the full range of health care discussions, not just pharmacy. We hope that other PCTs will recognise this benefit and appoint pharmacists."

  * PDF files on PJ Online require Acrobat Reader 4 or later.