Core hours system revised
Regulations to implement the new pharmacy contract in England were laid before Parliament on 10 March, including core hours determination.
Copies of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations
2005 (SI 2005 No 641) were not available as The Journal went to press.
But the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Department
of Health have issued a joint position statement on how pharmacy
opening hours will be determined. The new contract agreement is for pharmacies
normally to be open for a minimum of 40 hours a week (core hours).
PSNC head of regulation Steve Lutener said: “The PSNC position
has been to improve the control that pharmacy contractors have over their
hours (particularly as many GP practices are opting not to undertake
Saturday or out of hours work), but also to provide maximum confidence
for PCTs that the pharmaceutical needs in their areas will be delivered
consistently.”
Existing pharmacies will have until 1 July to tell primary care trusts
the hours that they are open and which times they consider to be their
core 40 hours. PCTs will have to accept these times and they will be
fixed for 90 days. |
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