The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7356 p7
2 July 2005

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Primary care consultation to canvas consumers’ views

English health consumers’ views on how health care outside hospitals should be reshaped are to be canvassed from September by the Department of Health.
What people say they want will be taken into account before a White Paper is published at the turn of next year.

Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt said last week: “I want to genuinely involve patients, the public and staff in designing family health and social care to meet the challenges of the 21st century.” Mrs Hewitt added that there would be a focus on making sure that the views of disadvantaged groups and communities were heard.
Companies are to be invited to bid to run the consultation exercise.

Hemant Patel, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “I want to encourage community pharmacists, alongside their colleagues working directly (as employees) within the NHS, to get involved in this important consultation.

“Community pharmacists are key stakeholders in the future of primary care services. They already make a massive contribution to the nation’s health care. There are opportunities being created for community pharmacists across Great Britain to develop new roles and responsibilities. In the future, community pharmacists will have an even greater contribution to make. Their voice needs to be heard as the Government develops its thinking.”