The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7199 p705-712
25 May 2002

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Loss of control of entry could act as catalyst to drive up quality of services

The loss of control of entry would trigger a fundamental change in how the National Health Service responds to community pharmacy and could act as a catalyst to drive up quality, according to Sue Sharpe, chief executive officer, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. Mrs Sharpe was speaking at the seventh Nucare annual convention held last weekend near Birmingham.

She explained that at present, the Department of Health supports control of entry but will have to consider the Office of Fair Trading's report on the matter, which is due to be published in September.

The PSNC argues that control of entry aids health service planning and leads to improved access to pharmacy services. She said that if control of entry went, the Department would be faced with a lack of ability to plan the supply of pharmacy services. "It will look carefully to restructure its whole approach to pharmacy." She added that if this happens, quality would be vital since the department would make sure that good service providers were rewarded.

In terms of local pharmaceutical services (LPS), Mrs Sharpe said that primary care trusts will need to take an early view on whether they are interested in providing LPS. She added that pharmacists need to make sure that a positive consideration is given by primary care trusts to what community pharmacy can contribute. "LPS offers a tremendous opportunity to extend the range of care provided by pharmacists."

The way pharmacists approach service provision must be acceptable to primary care trusts. "You must ensure that proposals are service-led and that they address the priorities of PCTs. Pharmacists need to provide services that meet real and acute patient needs."

She added that pharmacists should not forget patient group directions since they were great vehicles for providing structured services. In addition, supplementary prescribing was an opportunity for pharmacists and had ministerial support. "The PSNC will seek to remove obstacles, particularly in community pharmacy, for pharmacists getting involved in supplementary prescribing." She added that the PSNC was also keen to work with the Government to ensure that a quality repeat dispensing service is provided, if this is taken on by pharmacists.

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