The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7240 p354
15 March 2003

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Deregulation survey organised by Nucare collects 5,000 responses

A consumer survey carried out by Nucare as part of its campaign against pharmacy deregulation has so far generated around 5,000 responses. A linked petition has been signed by over 50,000 customers at Nucare's 1,200 member pharmacies.

The survey is being run in collaboration with the Patients Association. It seeks information from customers as to why they use particular pharmacies, what products they purchase and comparisons between supermarkets and community pharmacies. A supplement to the questionnaire seeks information on the services provided by the pharmacies themselves. Collated responses to the survey will be submitted to the Department of Health before the mid-April deadline for the Government's initial response to the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmacy deregulation.

Pharmacists are continuing to lobby Members of Parliament about the OFT report. A petition collected in Leicester was presented to Patricia Hewitt (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and local MP) by pharmacist Terence Mattock.

Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth Local Pharmaceutical Committee met three MPs representing its area (Tom Cox, Lab, Tooting; Paul Burstow, Lib Dem, Sutton and Cheam; and Tom Brake, Lib Dem, Carshalton and Wallington), and Liberal Democrat small business spokesman Brian Cotter, at the House of Commons this week. A petition carrying 25,000 signatures was presented and the MPs reported receiving numerous letters and postcards on the subject from constituents.

Other campaigns continue to attract extensive coverage in local newspapers.