Premises funding of £500k announced in Scotland
All community pharmacies should have a private advice area |
Funding to help community pharmacists improve their premises was announced
this week by the Scottish Executive. NHS boards will receive a share
of £500,000 to distribute among individual pharmacy contractors.
This funding is in addition to the global sum and to other funds allocated
by boards from unified budgets to support premises development.
An NHS circular explains that the funding should be used to ensure
that all community pharmacies have a private advice area (within the
constraints
of individual pharmacies) and that pharmacies comply with the requirements
of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Contractors are expected to
contribute a minimum of one-third of the cost. “Careful consideration
should be given as to the relative effectiveness, in terms of improvements
to patient care, of small grants to a number of contractors as opposed
to a smaller number of larger grants,” it states.
NHS boards have been asked to discuss the arrangements with local pharmacy
contractor committees and to confirm their plans for funds allocation
by 31 July.
Frank Owens, Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council chairman, said that
it is important for contractors to take steps now to ensure premises
are fit to deliver the new contract services due to begin in April 2006. “There
is further potential for at least some of our community pharmacies to
be used as NHS walk in, healthy living centres,” he added. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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