The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7303 p727
12 June 2004

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Consultation paper: Modernising NHS community pharmacy in Scotland (more)

SPF broadly supportive of community pharmacy proposals

The Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation is broadly supportive of recent proposals to modernise community pharmacy set out by the Scottish Executive Health Department. However, it has expressed a number of concerns, particularly around the planning of how pharmaceutical services are provided.

The SPF gave its opinions following the closure last week of the consultation on “Modernising NHS community pharmacy in Scotland” (PJ, 13 March, p306). The Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council is expected to make its position public this week.

In its response, the SPF says it has reservations about the concept of holding contracts. These are proposed in locations where there is over-provision of pharmacies. “We suggest that in order to encourage movement of holding contracts into areas of under-provision, which by their nature may not be commercially attractive, it is essential that proper financial recompense be made for any losses incurred. A fully funded decommissioning scheme should be established,” the SPF says.

It is also concerned about the way in which under- and over-provision of pharmaceutical services is to be determined and wants national definitions to be drawn up.