PCTs too slow to commission new pharmacy services
Provision of new primary care services to patients is likely to be hindered by the fact that many primary care trusts have been slow to grasp their new strategic responsibilities, according to Howard Stoate MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care and Public Health.
He said: “Primary care organisations have to be prepared to put
their hands in their pockets and commission these new primary care services
from pharmacists. If they are as slow to commission additional services
from community pharmacies as they have been to commission practice-based
enhanced services, then community pharmacy will struggle to achieve its
potential.”
Dr Stoate explained that although part of the problem is financial caution,
PCTs are small, highly localised organisations that often lack the commissioning
expertise or experience to ensure delivery of new services. “PCTs
will no doubt be able to develop this expertise in time as they mature
as organisations,” he said.
“But in the short term they may be forced to buy in help from outside
if they are to fulfil their responsibilities. It is a problem which the
Department of Health clearly needs to take seriously.”
Dr Stoate was speaking at the UniChem convention in South Africa this
week.
Meetings p538 |
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