The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7195 p557-561
27 April 2002

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Department of Health (www.doh.gov.uk)

Pharmacies are optional for one-stop care centres

The Department of Health wants to see 750 one-stop primary care centres established in England by 2006, but they will not all include pharmacies.

A spokesman for the Department of Health told The Journal that "Delivering the NHS plan", the update to the NHS plan published on 18 April after the Budget, included a new target of 750 one-stop centres by 2006, extending the existing target of 500 by 2004.

"The definition of a one-stop centre is that it is centred around a GP service and includes one or more other primary care services, including pharmacy, dentistry, optometry or social services depending on the local area. As at 31 December 2001, the Department was aware of 68 one-stop centres," the spokesman said. He added that pharmacy did not necessarily have to be part of a one-stop centre.

Mike King, head of professional development at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said that as far as the PSNC was concerned, one-stop centres were a reality.

"However, we believe that when they are being planned they need to take into account existing pharmacy services and maintain accessibility for elderly patients and mothers with young children," he said.