Public meetings to shape primary care reform
Members of the public are to be invited to four regional meetings and a national meeting to say how they want community health and care services to be reformed.
People will also be able to take part in local meetings organised by
the NHS, and local government and voluntary organisations.
The Department of Health hopes that these meetings, coupled with an online
questionnaire, will make it possible to take into account the views of
over 100,000 people before it publishes a White Paper at the turn of
the year.
The meetings are part of a consultation
process announced by Secretary
of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, in June (PJ, 2 July, p7). At the
time, Royal Pharmaceutical Society President, Hemant Patel, 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.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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