Build strong relationships with GPs and new primary care trusts
John D’Arcy: understand the agenda |
Pharmacists will need to forge stronger relationships with GPs and with reconfigured primary care trusts if the profession is to make the most of practice-based commissioning, according to John D'Arcy, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association.
Speaking at the annual conference of the National Association of Co-operative
Executive Pharmacists in Stratford-upon-Avon last week, Mr D’Arcy
warned that pharmacists would have to get to grips with practice-based
commissioning.
“
We need to understand the agenda. Delay is not an option. We have got
to bed down the essential and advanced services,” he said. “And
we have to build relationships with GPs and the new PCTs. Yes, the reorganisation
means that PCTs are not engaged but time is not a luxury we have.
“So, be opportunistic and engage with them now by offering services
that meet the needs of the local agenda.”
Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating
Committee, agreed that pharmacists should concentrate on providing essential
and advanced services while PCTs are reconfigured. “Let us recognise
that this is not the right time for commissioning enhanced services,” she
told conference delegates.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by NHS Alliance and the Health Service
Journal has suggested that the planned
reorganisation of PCTs (PJ, 6
August, p156) could adversely affect the delivery of health care services.
It asked PCT professional executive committee chairmen for their views
on the impact of the reconfiguration.
Over three-quarters of the 102 who responded said that “local circumstances
and patient needs” were not getting proper consideration in the
process. Four out of five (80 per cent) said that clinical engagement
with other groups of health professionals providing primary care services
would be weakened.
News feature p476 |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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