Pharmacists urged to start planning for new contract now
Pharmacists have to start thinking about the new contract now, Mike Smith, chairman of UniChem, told a press briefing last week.
“Pharmacists should think about planning, training and refitting
premises. They have to demonstrate to primary care trusts that they are
capable
of delivering services before the new contract is introduced,” he
said. “I believe that the pharmacists that PCTs will go to when
the new contract comes out are those who have already proved they can
deliver.”
Mr Smith’s views were backed by Chris Martin, chairman of one of
UniChem’s five regional Pharmacy Consultative Boards and also chairman
of Pembrokeshire Health Board. “We will want to deal with those
pharmacists who have shown that they can deliver,” he commented.
Mr Smith conceded that this approach might mean that pharmacists have
to offer services for little reward in the short term. However, he explained
that in the longer term this would help protect future income streams
in the new pharmacy contract.
The briefing was held to discuss the role of the Pharmacy Consultative
Boards. Through these local boards, pharmacists can shape UniChem’s
national approach. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader