The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7248 p639
10 May 2003

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National Pharmaceutical Association (www.npa.co.uk)

NPA fights pharmacy's corner in out-of-hours service planning

The National Pharmaceutical Association, has been trying to convince the Department of Health that patients deserve proper pharmaceutical services outside of normal working hours.

Members of the NPA board heard at their April meeting that a review of out-of-hours services in 2000 recommended that patients should be able to receive medicines they need at the same time and in the same place as any out-of-hours consultation. The review also said that remuneration and contractual arrangements for out-of-hours providers and pharmaceutical services should be changed to make this possible.

The NPA and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee want medicines to be supplied out of hours only if there is immediate clinical need that cannot wait until the next day. They says that patients receiving full courses of medicines out of hours should receive the same quality of service as in normal hours. They have suggested that patients should be able to get medicines from remote pharmacies.

Other matters considered at the NPA board's April meeting are reported below.

Training A Royal Pharmaceutical Society decision that dispensing staff should be trained, or be being trained, to a standard equivalent to S/NVQ level 2 was accepted. The NPA will provide suitable training courses for its members.

NHS branding NHS branding for community pharmacies is supported by the NPA. It offers advantages to both members and the NHS and distinguishes pharmacies from other outlets, such as drug stores. As a first step, it wants the Department of Health to supply stickers for use in doors or windows.