The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7331 p5
1/8 January 2005

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Scottish contract announcements welcomed

Last month’s announcements on the new community pharmacy contract in Scotland and transitional arrangements (PJ, 18/25 December 2004, p875) have been welcomed.

“We welcome this important step in preparing for the new community pharmacy contract,” said Angela Timoney, chairman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish Executive.

“It provides a period of stability that will allow community pharmacists to focus on the development and delivery of services that will provide improved quality of pharmaceutical care for people in Scotland and professional satisfaction for pharmacists,” she said.

James Semple, chairman of the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation, commented: “We are very pleased that the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council and the Scottish Executive Health Department have negotiated a deal that will further add to the stability of the network in Scotland over the next 16 months. As a result of this stability, we will be able to concentrate on preparing for the new contract.”

Mr Semple added: “We are further pleased that safeguards have been built into the transitional arrangements to take account of those contractors who experience changes in circumstances outwith the ordinary.”

The Company Chemists’ Association believes that further discussions are needed around both the new contract and the transitional arrangements. “There are some unresolved issues around the interim settlement which are still being negotiated,” said Digby Emson, CCA chairman.

However, the CCA is supportive of the contract’s aims. “The CCA fully supports the development of community pharmacist’s role as outlined in ‘The right medicine’ and recognises the important contribution the new Scottish contractual framework will play in realising that vision,” Mr Emson said.

But he commented: “For community pharmacy to flourish and benefit from future investment, it is essential that all contractors receive a fair return on their investment. While the CCA is happy to look at different remuneration systems, any model we sign up to must recognise both the fixed and variable costs inherent in the provision of pharmacy services.” The CCA looks forward to participating in further discussions, he added.