Violence against pharmacists is taken seriously
Rosie Winterton acknowledged pharmacists’ concerns
over contract
|
Violence and the threat of violence against pharmacists is taken extremely seriously, health minister Rosie Winterton said at the 23rd
annual dinner of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee in London this week.
She told guests that the NHS Security
Management Service is currently
looking at ways in which pharmacists and their staff can be better protected
and what measures can be put in place to tackle violence against them.
“We will shortly be coming forward with details of pilot schemes
to encourage the reporting of violent incidents in primary care and community
settings,
including, of course, community pharmacies, to primary care trusts and
on to the NHS Security Management Service. Quite frankly our NHS staff
deserve to work in the safest possible environment,” she said.
Ms Winterton also paid tribute to the profession for the open dialogue
that had been maintained during development of the new pharmacy contractual
framework.
She stressed that the Department of Health would continue to work closely
with the PSNC and the NHS Confederation to ensure successful implementation. “I
will shortly be signing the final Regulations to bring in the new framework,” she
announced.
She also acknowledged that pharmacists still had some concerns about
the new contract. “We will continue to listen and try to address
them. For example, where pharmacists meet the standards for providing
advanced services under the new framework, PCTs will be required to enter
into agreements with you to provide such services.
“I hope that PCTs and contractors will take advantage of this to
develop closer working relationships,” she said.
To help community pharmacists work more closely with the NHS, the DoH
is now developing a communications strategy and resource pack for PCTs
to help with local implementation of the contract. Ms Winterton added
that a collaborative programme for the NHS was also under development. “This
could bring together, for example, PCTs, local pharmacists and patients
to look at new ways that the contractual framework can be of maximum
benefit to patients. There will be places for 28 sites. . . and there
has already been a great deal of interest shown in this. Financial support
will not only be available to participating sites, but will also ensure
learning and good practice can be quickly shared with neighbouring PCTs.”
Barry Andrews, PSNC chairman, said he expected changes to control of
entry regulations to begin when the new contract begins.
He added that the new contract would allow patients to have choice. “But
it will not work to best advantage if the pressures of competition are
not balanced by support for the changes pharmacies have to put in place.
Contractors will need a measure of stability and confidence if they are
to make the investment in change we all — the Government, PCTs,
pharmacists and patients want to see.”
He emphasised that community pharmacy must be given a greater role in
primary care. “At times, it must be said, it has been frustrating
that this message has been met with agreement but action has not been
forthcoming. That, I’m delighted to say, is no longer the case.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader