The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7240 p353
15 March 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

PSNC and Minister differ on LPS

A sharp difference between the views of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Government on the significance of local pharmaceutical services (LPS) schemes became apparent last week.

Speaking at the PSNC dinner, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health David Lammy said that LPS was an exemplar for how services might look in the future and that it would make pharmacy the pivotal point in the interface between primary and secondary care.

"I am enthusiastic about LPS as it could, and should, liberate the NHS and pharmacists to provide services where they are most needed, Mr Lammy said, (PJ, 8 March, p323).

Conversely, PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe believes that LPS is more likely to be a vehicle for specialised services than a real alternative for most contractors.

Alastair Buxton, the PSNC's head of NHS services, said on 12 March that discussions were taking place with the Department of Health over what should be included in a national contract and what should be left for negotiation between primary care trusts and local pharmaceutical committees or contractors. He declined to indicate how the discussions were going.