The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p867
14 December 2002

Society summary

Briefings for Welsh politicians on key pharmacy issues

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Welsh Executive is producing a series of briefing documents to inform politicians in Wales about key issues relevant to pharmacy within a changing National Health Service.

The first two documents, on original pack dispensing (OPD) and the value of automated dispensing, have already been presented to Assembly Members and politicians in Wales. Topics to be covered by future briefing documents include clinical governance, pharmacist prescribing and harm minimisation and substance misuse. All the documents are presented in a dual language format.

The OPD document explains how OPD is not only convenient for patients but also improves patient safety by reducing the risk of errors and ensuring access to patient information. It points out that OPD also has benefits for the NHS in increased efficiency resulting from reductions in drug waste and better use of the workforce. And it adds that OPD would also bring Wales into line with dispensing practice in Europe. It recommends that OPD should be implemented as soon as practicable as one of the building blocks for future development in the NHS.

The briefing on automation, produced in collaboration with the Welsh Chief Pharmacists Committee, points out that investment in automation is a centrepiece of the National Assembly's recently launched pharmacy strategy for Wales, and is a good example of how the new money for the NHS can be increased to produce long-term gains for patients and a truly modernised service. Because it would place Wales at the cutting edge of the modernisation of the medicines management process, Wales would become an attractive place to work in hospital pharmacy, enabling the recruitment and retention of high quality staff.

Commenting on the introduction of the briefing documents, the secretary to the Welsh Executive, Cath O'Brien, said: "The NHS is going through a time of modernisation and change. It is essential that we are proactive in highlighting the issues that are essential to the development of pharmaceutical services in Wales.

"The briefing documents have proved a useful focus for discussion when meeting Assembly Members and other politicians face to face. We hope they will help the decision-makers concentrate on the important issues that need addressing as a priority."

The first two briefing documents were launched at a special pharmacy meeting hosted by Welsh Assembly Member Geraint Davies, himself a pharmacist, on Wednesday 4 December. The meeting was attended by the Welsh Assembly Government Health and Social Services Minister, Jane Hutt, and Assembly Members from all Wales's political parties. The Welsh Executive's chairman, Andrea Robinson, and the chairman of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, Jeremy Savage, explained how introducing patient pack dispensing for all prescribed medicines would reap benefits for patients and the NHS.

Mrs Robinson said that it was time for the NHS in Wales to take a lead in bringing dispensing in United Kingdom in line with practices across Europe. "It is no longer an option for the safety of patients to be put at risk," she said.

The politicians were also able to witness a live display of robotic technology to demonstrate the benefits of automated dispensing. Automation would reduce the risk of errors and allow pharmacy staff to spend more time with patients, they were told.