New contract could result in problems for Saturday services
Primary care trusts in England could face a crisis next year over the provision of a community pharmacy service on Saturdays.
One of the implications of the new community pharmacy contract is that
contractors, although required to open for 40 hours a week, will be able
to choose which 40 hours they wish to open.
Speaking at a Pharmaceutical
Services Negotiating Committee new contract roadshow in Maidstone on 31 October, Sue Sharpe, PSNC chief executive,
explained: “When the new contract begins, contractors will have
to notify their opening hours to the PCT and these will become their
contracted hours.”
She suggested that if a contractor currently wants to adjust his or her
opening hours, the prudent thing to do is to change them in April when
implementation of the contract is planned. Longer-term, it will be possible
for contractors to change their contracted hours by giving the PCT three
months’ notice.
Contractors at the roadshow pointed out that the closure of GP surgeries
on Saturday mornings, following the introduction of the new GP contract,
is having an impact on community pharmacy’s viability on Saturdays. “The
cost of getting a pharmacist in for three, four or five prescriptions
does not make it worthwhile,” said Mrs Sharpe. The allowance in
the new pharmacy contract could lead to many pharmacies choosing to open
on Monday to Friday only.
“
This is an issue of some difficulty for PCTs and the Government,” commented
Mrs Sharpe. “We have been clear that as a consequence of what they
have done for GPs hours, they have created a problem that will lead to
the closure of community pharmacies on Saturdays. We said ‘do not
leave it to us to pick up the mess you have made’.”
The result could be PCTs having to fund a community pharmacy on Saturdays. “If
a PCT wants a Saturday service and none of the pharmacies is providing
it, then the PCT will have to negotiate funding to cover the cost of
opening,” said Mrs Sharpe. This should, at least, cover the cost
of a pharmacist, a member of staff, and an allowance for lighting and
heating. |
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