The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7209 p157-159
3 August 2002

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  Pharmacy in Wales
  Patient information
  The Society

Letters to the Editor

Pharmacy in Wales

Reasons for strategy's delay are appreciated

From Ms A. Robinson, MRPharmS, and others

Your leading article (PJ, 27 July, p120) appropriately pointed to the fact that the Strategy for Pharmacy in Wales is eagerly awaited by all who work in, or with, the profession in Wales. However, to believe that it is appropriate to publish the document with speed as the essence, rather than after full, appropriate and effective consideration, is to miss the point of what we are trying to achieve in Wales.

Devolution in Wales allows services to be developed in response to the needs of the people of Wales. Although it is possible that the Welsh strategy may draw upon some of the aspects of the plan for England, it is a separate document and their timings are unlinked.

The aim of Strategy for Pharmacy in Wales, as we understand it, is to take a holistic, patient-focused approach to pharmaceutical services in Wales. This means looking at pharmaceutical services within a multi-service framework. The contribution of pharmaceutical services, and the unique and valuable skills of the pharmacist are, therefore, being considered as part of an integrated approach to delivering effective primary and secondary health care services for people in Wales.

We appreciate that the Assembly is attempting to produce a co-ordinated and inclusive approach to issuing these documents for formal consultation. We respect the reasons for the delay and look forward to the document being out for consultation in September.

A. Robinson
Chairman
Welsh Executive,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society

R. McArtney
President
Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists

E. P. Parry
Chairman
Community Pharmacy Wales

J. Savage
Chairman
Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee

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