The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7289 p266
6 March 2004

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Let us sit at the top table more
Why are we waiting? more

Let us sit at the top table

Pharmacists in England have an unrivalled opportunity to make their mark with the Government and the general public over the contribution they make to public health currently and the greater contribution they could make in the future. On Wednesday, this week, the Health Secretary John Reid revealed details of a national consultation over the next three months on ways to improve the nation’s health and well-being — under the aegis of a new document, “Choosing health?”. It sets out wide-ranging questions on how the country might tackle health problems, such as obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted infections.

Mr Reid said he wanted the whole country to engage in a debate about where Government responsibility lies and where individuals must play a part in tackling these vital challenges.

“Choosing health?” is designed to stimulate debate — not to provide answers. The document asks what changes might be desirable from individuals, organisations and Government, national and local, on a wide range of health issues and matters of social behaviour. This consultation comes in the wake of last week’s publication of the second Wanless report, “Securing good health for the whole population” (p274), and in advance of the publication of a White Paper on public health later this year.

As this week’s News feature on pharmacy’s role in smoking cessation reveals (p275) and a Vision for pharmacy (p286) describes, pharmacists are at the forefront of developments in this area of service provision. Pharmacists should take this opportunity to shout loudly and clearly about what they do in the public health arena at the moment— whether the initiative is small or its remit is broad. If they make enough noise, they will ensure their rightful place at the top table of future national public health policy.

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Why are we waiting?

Rosie Winterton is a lucky woman. Invited to address the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee's annual dinner earlier this week, she said little of significance. There were no announcements and no answers to the questions on control of entry or the new contract. As a result, she was given a lukewarm reception. Why no metaphorical bread rolls were lobbed in her direction is possibly because, as one guest said, it was the most boring speech he had heard from a minister in 10 years of attending the event, and the diners had all nodded off. It was such a wasted opportunity. It is not enough for the minister to say she was not ready to make any announcement. She should have ensured, with so many of community pharmacy’s leaders present, that come what may there was something of real significance to say.

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