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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7355 p783
25 June 2005

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Minister with responsibility for pharmacy addresses new APPG

John D’Arcy, Rajesh Patel, Howard Stoate, Jane Kennedy, Mark Todd, Sue Sharpe, Digby Emson and Hemant Patel

Pictured left to right: John D’Arcy, National Pharmaceutical Association, Rajesh Patel, NPA, Howard Stoate, Jane Kennedy, Mark Todd, Sue Sharpe, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, Digby Emson, Company Chemists Association and Hemant Patel, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Health minister Jane Kennedy, who has specific responsibility for pharmacy, addressed the inaugural meeting in this parliamentary session and the annual general meeting of the All Party Pharmacy Group in London earlier this week.

She said that she hopes to establish an ongoing partnership and dialogue with the community pharmacy sector.

Howard Stoate MP (Lab, Dartford) was re-elected as APPG chairman. He told the meeting that the APPG would maintain its cross-party approach and constructively examine issues affecting pharmacy.

He said that the APPG would:

· Monitor implementation of the community pharmacy contract and examine early outputs from it

· Look at issues around the development of primary care services

· Look at skill requirements, training needs and profiles of primary care professionals

· Anticipate developments needed to ensure primary care professionals can meet expectations and deliver service targets

· Examine how practice-based commissioning will work and what it will mean for patients and professionals

n Visit a hospital trust to see innovations in pharmacy practice in secondary care

Baroness Tonge and Baroness Cumberlege were elected joint vice-chairmen of the APPG. Mark Todd MP (Lab, South Derbyshire) was elected secretary and David Heath MP (Lib Dem, Somerton & Frome) was elected treasurer.