The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7346 p481
23 April 2005

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Contract 2005

PSNC in no hurry over standard LPS contract

There will be no rush to reach agreement between the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Department of Health on a standard local pharmaceutical services contract.

The standard LPS contract will help low dispensing volume pharmacies remain viable. Paym,ents to these pharmacies are currently protected for three years under the new contract.

Sue Sharpe, PSNC chief executive, said: “We are seeking to work with the areas that have low volume pharmacies and try to ensure we develop proposals that work for them and for the PCTs. We think it is going to be much better to take time and get it right.”

Mrs Sharpe said she would be surprised if large numbers of low volume pharmacies closed and took the exit payment available in the first year of the new contract.