Details of the proposed new pharmacy contract for Scotland are revealed
Basic details of the new contract for community pharmacy in Scotland were outlined last week.
Agreed principles
The Scottish Executive Health Department and the Scottish Pharmaceutical
General Council have agreed a number of principles for the new
community pharmacy contract. These include:
• Services will be provided that deliver pharmaceutical care
efficiently and effectively
• A rational network of pharmacies/pharmacists that provides
equitable and convenient access for patients will be supported
• Quality pharmaceutical care services will be properly resourced
• Opportunities for continuing professional development will
be provided
• Premises will be fit for their purpose
• A suitable infrastructure will be put in place, including provision
of information technology
• Financial turbulence for contractors will be minimised |
In a joint letter sent to pharmacists on 31 July, the Scottish Executive
Health Department and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council describe
the progress to date. “The discussions are progressing well with
agreement having been reached on the principles to underpin the new contract
and on the service elements that the contract is expected to contain,” it
says.
Services will be divided into core and additional sections. Core services
will be provided by all community pharmacies. They are:
• A chronic medication service that will be based on repeat dispensing
and pilot pharmaceutical care schemes in Scotland
• A minor ailments service, similar to the model piloted in Ayrshire
and Tayside (see PJ, 23 February 2002, p238)
• A public health service
• An acute medication service — dispensing medicines for acute
illness
Additional services will not necessarily be provided by every community
pharmacy but instead by some contractors, perhaps acting together within
a particular area. The additional services include extended hours provision,
out-of-hours services, domiciliary oxygen, harm reduction services and
advisory services to care homes. It is expected that a national framework
and benchmark tariff will be agreed for these additional services.
There are two main differences between the proposed new contracts in
Scotland and England, according to Frank Owens, chairman of the SPGC.
First, a minor ailments service will be provided by all community pharmacies
in Scotland. In England it seems more likely that this will be classified
as an additional service (PJ, 19 July, p77). The second difference is
that although services will be divided into core and additional in Scotland,
the aim is to avoid a two-tiered approach. He stresses that the services
falling into the additional category are those that do not need to be
offered by every pharmacy and as such their provision can be agreed locally.
A framework setting out details of the services and the care standards
expected is being developed. It is not until this work has been completed
that discussions about remuneration will begin. However, the Scottish
Executive has said that the new contract will not result in a detrimental
effect on the global sum for pharmacy. Full implementation of the new
contract is expected in 2005–06 but some phased introduction might
begin next year.
Frank Owens offers pharmacists the following reassurance: “My personal
view is that there will be no big bang associated with the introduction
of the Scottish pharmacy contract,” he told The Journal. “What
we are seeking to do is to break down the contract into manageable, bite-size
chunks and to phase in the necessary changes. That way we manage the
change process better, minimising both financial and operational risk.” |
