The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7256 p6
5 July 2003

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Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (www.psnc.org.uk)

PSNC roadshows find contract ideas

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee roadshows to discuss the new contract have got off to a good start, according to Alastair Buxton, head of National Health Service services at the PSNC. The first roadshow was held in London this week and was attended by approximately 100 pharmacists.

"Lots of good issues, ideas and concerns were raised and this is exactly what we were looking for," Mr Buxton told The Journal. "The whole point of the roadshows is to get ideas from contractors and then, if necessary, the contract will be redesigned." He emphasised: "This is a genuine consultation."

Key issues raised at the first roadshow were:

• Volume Concerns about volume, particularly increases in prescription numbers, and how this will impact on small pharmacies and high-volume pharmacies

• Costs Concerns about investment costs in terms of moving towards the new contract

• CPD Whether or not funding will be forthcoming for continuing professional development

• Regions Whether or not regional differentials in costs will be recognised, eg, higher costs in the London area

• Incentives The desire to have targets minimised but to have incentives through innovation

"These were good responses and we were heartened by the positive engagement we got," commented Mr Buxton.

A full list of the dates and locations of the forthcoming roadshows appeared in The Journal last week (p879).